Trump Administration Finalizes Broadened Contraceptive Mandate Exemptions

In two releases yesterday, the Health and Human Services Administration, jointly with the IRS and Department of Labor, issued final rules making permanent (with minor changes) the interim final rules issued last October expanding exemptions from the contraceptive coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act. One release (full text) finalizes exemptions for various entities and individuals with religious objections to providing coverage for some or all contraceptive or sterilization methods. The other release (full text) finalizes exemptions for entities and individuals with moral objections to providing such coverage. The final rules will become effective on Jan. 14, 2019.  Last December, two federal district courts issued nationwide preliminary injunctions against enforcing the interim final rules. RNS reports on the new rules.