Proposed Rulemaking on HHS Mandate

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the requirement that all insurance plans cover “all Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity”.

The proposed rule is being issued in response to the many faith-based institutions and religious business owners that continue to object to this mandate on grounds that it forces them to violate their deeply held religious or moral objections to some or all such coverage—especially coverage that includes the morning-after pill (Plan B) or week-after pill (ella).

The proposed rule is open for comment until April 5, 2013. It is similar to proposals rejected by pro-life leaders in the past.