President Maintains Integrity Of Affordable Care Act

Religious Exemption For Contraceptives Kept Narrow Despite Pleas From Catholic Bishops

BERKELEY/LOS ANGELES, CA – January 20, 2012 –  Despite rumors that he might cave to pressure from the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobby, the White House announced today that the President would not call for an expansion of the religious exemption in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'(HHS) proposed rule regarding contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing

This summer, HHS issued a proposed rule that included the adoption of the Institute of Medicine's recommendation that health plans cover the full range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods without cost-sharing, co-pays or deductibles for female plan holders.  While this rule is largely seen in the public health community as a dramatic step forward, it included a narrow religious exemption. The exemption mirrors California's religious exemption for contraceptive coverage passed in the Women’s Contraception Equity Act and applies only to institutions whose primary purpose is to instill religious values and who employ and serve people with the same religious beliefs.

Over the past few months Catholic Bishops aggressively lobbied the President directly to expand the exemption to include hospitals, schools, non-profits and any other religiously-affiliated institution.  Such an expansion would have denied nearly 800,000 employees at Catholic hospitals and 2 million students and staff at religiously affiliated schools a key benefit under the Affordable Care Act.

"Breaking down cost barriers to accessing contraception is sound health and fiscal policy and is aligned with the intent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a signature achievement of President Obama's administration," said Julie Rabinovitz, President and CEO of the California Family Health Council.

Currently, about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, costing taxpayers an estimated $11 billion a year.  According to a national poll, 84 percent of Americans approve of family planning and see birth control as an important part of preventive health care.  Among all women who have had sex, 99 percent have used a contraceptive method other than natural family planning.  Sexually active Catholics are not much different with fully 98 percent having used modern forms of birth control banned by the Catholic Church.

“One in three women voters have struggled to pay for prescription birth control at some point and have used it inconsistently as a result.  With today’s decision President Obama is standing by the millions of women from all faiths who use contraception and deserve affordable, high quality family planning services,” added Rabinovitz.

California Family Health Council works to create healthy individuals, families and communities.  CFHC accomplishes its mission by improving the accessibility and quality of sexual and reproductive health services in California communities and beyond through its umbrella of services including public policy, research, education, and clinic support initiatives serving over 1.2 million individuals annually. www.cfhc.org