A memo from McDermott, Will and Emery reports that the recently issued federal guidelines on preventive health care services for women have been amended to provide an exemption for religious employers. The guidelines under the Affordable Care Act require that various preventive services for women be covered fully, without co-payment, co-insurance or deductibles. Among the covered items are contraceptive services. However, pursuant to new authority granted to it in a release from the Department of Labor, Treasury and HHS issued on July 28 (full text), the Health Resources and Services Administration has exempted various religious employers from the required contraceptive coverage. [Thanks to Steven H. Sholk for the lead.]
UPDATE: The Heritage Foundation (Aug. 2) claims that the definition of religious employer in the new exemption is too narrow.
