The Court Takes on More Obamacare Objections
NPR November 6, 2015.
On Friday November 6th, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a group of cases being brought by hospitals, schools and charities all of which are religious/church based institutions. The subject on hand will be the process by which the ACA (Obamacare) deals with these institutions not having to pay for birth control insurance coverage for employees or students.
Reported by Nina Totenberg, as an accommodation in the ACA, these religious groups’ objecting to the contraception provision of the law can opt-out of providing birth control, through a notification to the Department of Health and Human Services that such provision is contrary to their religious beliefs. Such actions will then activate an independent system of coverage for birth control for these individuals. The item of disagreement is that this solution is, in and of itself, still contrary to the religious doctrine causing this entire discussion.
There have been four challenges to the ACA since 2010. One may recall a decision in 2014, a case brought by Hobby Lobby, which actually allowed such companies, with a closely held structure, to opt-out of the provisions for no cost prescription contraception due to religious convictions. This case is the prime mover for Friday’s decision to hear additional related cases.
Ms. Totenberg says, “Hobby Lobby is an arts and crafts chain owned by the Green family, who are evangelical Christians. The Supreme Court validated their objection to the contraception mandate saying it violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”
Based on the results of these cases, we may begin to see many similar ones being brought to The Court in the near future.
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