The HHS Mandate and Federal Subsidies of Abortion Coverage Premiums under the ACA
This is great news! On Friday, October 6, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) relieved the extreme burden imposed on Americans by the HHS Contraceptive Mandate by issuing two interim final rules providing broad religious and moral exemption from the requirement that health insurance coverage include sterilization, contraception, and drugs and devices that may cause abortion. These interim final rules took immediate effect and allow for a 60-day open public comment period. Please stand by for a call to submit comments to HHS in support of this policy which, in the words of Cardinal DiNardo, “bring the federal government back into the religious freedom mainstream.” (The Hill 10/7/17) We will alert you in the coming days when it is time to act and provide you the means to do so quickly and easily.
In this memo from our policy partners at the USCCB, you can read more about the status of the Mandate as well as about an administrative bulletin from the Trump Administration which was also issued last Friday. The bulletin addresses guidance on implementing the requirements in the Affordable Care Act, (ACA), regarding segregation of abortion coverage premiums in ACA health care plans.
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
The effort to protect children from the horrors of late-term abortion moved forward on October 3, when the House passed H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, by vote of 237-189. Focus now turns to the Senate where on October 5, Sen. Linsey Graham, (R-SC) introduced the Pain-Capable bill as S. 1922. The measure has 45 co-sponsors. We are preparing educational materials and a call to action to help you contact your senators and urge them to enact this life-saving policy into law. Expect an alert early next week.
Other Ongoing Efforts
Please also remember, mighty advocates, that our efforts to urge Congress to enact the Conscience Protection Act of 2017 continue. There is an open alert on that legislation in our Action Center. If you haven’t already reached out to your members on the need to protect pro-life health care providers, you can do so here. And, finally, we continue to raise our voices in defense of the vulnerable at the end of life as well. Please also urge Congress to say “no” to assisted suicide.
Thank you for all you do to defend life and for standing with Human Life Action. Together we will be heard!
