On Monday, the same day that the time for public comments ended, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that there would be no change to the HHS mandate rules, and that they would go into affect in August. This means that all organizations, other than parishes, churches, and diocese themselves, will be required to provide coverage for contraception and sterilization procedures to their employees. Washington Times has the story:
President Obama’s top health official said Monday the administration will finalize its new rules granting free birth control, saying the controversial policy will go into effect in August.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius‘ comments came the same day that the public comment period for the contraception mandate ended, and even as a bevy of nonprofit groups and companies are fighting in court to overturn it.
“As of Aug. 1, 2013, every employee who doesn’t work directly for a church or a diocese will be included in the benefit package,” Mrs. Sebelius said at a forum moderated by Reuters that was held at the Harvard School of Public Health.
The contraception policy, which the administration issued as part of the new health care law, requires employers to provide health insurance that covers birth control, such as oral contraceptives and sterilization, without charging a copay.
And today we celebrate...