President Amends Birth Control Policy

Facing growing criticism President Obama announced on Friday, February 10th an amended policy on the birth control mandate.

Under the new announced policy, religious employers (and affiliated institutions) will not be required to offer contraception and will not have to refer their employees to places that provide it. Instead, the employer’s insurance company must provide birth control for free in a separate arrangement with workers who want it.

Many opponents of the birth control policy; however, are taking a skeptical approach and are still calling for a full exemption for religious organizations and affiliated institutions.

The regulations require coverage, at no cost share for:

• Contraceptives and contraceptive counseling (FDA approved methods) Well-woman visits
• Screening for gestational diabetes
• DNA testing for HPV for women 30 years old and older
• Counseling about sexually transmitted infections
• Counseling and screening for HIV
• Counseling on breast-feeding, including breast-feeding equipment
• counseling on interpersonal and domestic violence

The requirements go into effect for plans years on or after August 1, 2012. religious affiliated organizations were and still are under the newly proposed regulations, provided with a 1 year extension until August 1, 2013.