Contraceptive Mandate Could Land Before Supreme Court

The birth control mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court following contradictory rulings by several U.S. circuit courts. This past week a three-member panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that, as written and implemented, the mandate violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and requires an easier religious exemption. The plaintiffs argued before the court that providing contraceptive services for their employees or students was the equivalent of offering abortions, and the mandate thus violates their faith. The 8th Circuit Court has jurisdiction only in the Midwest, but since other circuits have found the mandate fine as written, the Supreme Court could end up deciding who's right.

---

For the full story on how the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) affects your business, no matter how large or small, please obtain a copy of our comprehensive yet easy-to-follow Affordable Care Act Compliance Kit.

---