This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21303168
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| White House unveils new contraception opt-out | White House unveils new contraception opt-out |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama's administration has unveiled an opt-out for religious groups who object to covering birth control in their staff health plans. | |
| Insurance companies, and not faith-based employers, would bear the cost of providing contraception to employees. | |
| The move is an effort to appease faith-based organisations, such as hospitals and universities, who objected to the requirement they provide such coverage. | The move is an effort to appease faith-based organisations, such as hospitals and universities, who objected to the requirement they provide such coverage. |
| Originally, the exemption was narrowly defined to focus on houses of worship. | Originally, the exemption was narrowly defined to focus on houses of worship. |
| Under Friday's announcement, free contraception will be provided for staff of faith-based organisations under a plan that is separate to the employer's healthcare policy. | |
| This will exempt those bodies from "contracting, arranging, paying or referring for such coverage". | This will exempt those bodies from "contracting, arranging, paying or referring for such coverage". |
| 'Respecting religious concerns' | |
| Roman Catholic bishops, evangelical leaders and other religious figureheads had lobbied for a broader exemption to the contraception requirement. | Roman Catholic bishops, evangelical leaders and other religious figureheads had lobbied for a broader exemption to the contraception requirement. |
| More than 40 lawsuits have been filed by religious groups and charities which say the requirement violates their religious beliefs. | More than 40 lawsuits have been filed by religious groups and charities which say the requirement violates their religious beliefs. |
| It was not clear whether the new rules would satisfy religious leaders who were unhappy with the original requirement. | |
| But Sarah Lipton, policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the rule met their goal of offering "seamless coverage" of contraception to those who would have been affected. | |
| Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the new rules would provide "women across the nation with coverage of recommended preventive care at no cost, while respecting religious concerns". | |
| The regulations are part of a landmark healthcare bill passed by President Obama, known as the 2010 Affordable Care Act. | |
| They require most US employers to include access to contraception, including sterilisation, in their health insurance plans. | |
| The latest changes say groups that identify themselves as religious and offer private insurance must allow women to receive contraceptive services directly from the insurer. | |
| In cases where the group is self-insured, a third party would provide the coverage. | |
| The health and human services department has said any costs for the scheme would be covered by a deduction in federal user fees for the policy issuer. | |
| Supporters of the regulations say it would give women the freedom to make their own healthcare choices. | |
| The latest rules do not specify a work-around for individual business owners who have religious objections to the rule. | |
| The latest changes are open to public comment for 60 days. |