Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Administration Takes Steps To Relax Health Law's Birth Control Mandate
The New York Times: White House Acts To Roll Back Birth-Control Mandate For Religious Employers
Federal officials, following through on a pledge by President Trump, have drafted a rule to roll back a federal requirement that many religious employers provide birth control coverage in health insurance plans. The mandate for free contraceptive coverage was one of the most hotly contested Obama administration policies adopted under the Affordable Care Act, and it generated scores of lawsuits by employers that had religious objections to it. (Pear, 5/29)
The Hill: Senate Dems Urge White House Not To Roll Back Free Birth Control Rule
Senate Democrats are warning the Trump administration not to roll back ObamaCare rules requiring free birth control for women. A Thursday letter, led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), points to a forthcoming regulation currently under review at the White House that could change the ObamaCare requirements. Under ObamaCare, regulations currently require contraception to be offered at no cost to the patient, but the rules have drawn objections on religious grounds. (Sullivan, 5/26)
