Press Releases

Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for the government to impose cost-sharing requirements on employers who have religious objections to specific contraceptive services mandated in employee health plans. The decision upholds every American’s Constitutional right to religious freedom.

“Today’s ruling was never about the Affordable Care Act; rather, it was about safeguarding every American’s fundamental right to religious freedom.  Hardworking Americans should not be forced to choose between sacrificing their religious beliefs and facing punishment from the federal government. I’m happy that the Supreme Court upheld the Constitution and reaffirmed our First Amendment rights.”  

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already exempted religious employers (i.e. churches) and religious nonprofit organizations with religious objections from this mandate.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, “Under this accommodation, the insurance issuer must exclude contraceptive coverage from the employer’s plan and provide plan participants with separate payments for contraceptive services without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on the employer, its insurance plan, or its employee beneficiaries.” (Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores; 6-30-14)

Organizations that do not currently fall under this umbrella are required, by law, to provide 20 contraceptive methods.  This ruling allows employers to opt out of sharing the cost of four specific services out of the 20 required methods and would provide the same accommodations currently offered to employees of churches and religious nonprofit organizations by HHS.