Under these accommodations, eligible organizations are not directly involved with providing any contraceptive coverage to which they object on religious grounds. Payments for these contraceptive services will be provided by an independent third party, such as an insurance company or third-party administrator (TPA), directly and free of charge.
To be eligible for the accommodation, an organization or employer must meet specific requirements and was required to self-certify that it met the criteria (HHS has provided a self-certification form for this purpose).
A number of organizations challenged the self-certification requirement, arguing that it infringes on religious liberty because it makes the nonprofit organization complicit in the provision of birth control.
In response to these challenges, the Departments previously provided an alternative way for an eligible organization to provide notification of its objection to covering contraceptives: by notifying HHS in writing of its religious objection to providing contraceptive coverage instead of providing the self-certification to the plan’s issuer or TPA. This option has been confirmed in the final regulations.
On July 10, 2015, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) released final regulations on the ACA’s women’s preventive care coverage requirement.
These regulations:
• Finalize an accommodation for eligible nonprofit organizations and for- profit businesses with religious objections to providing contraceptive coverage, including related documentation standards.
• Clarify general rules on the coverage of preventive services generally.
The regulations are applicable on the first day of the first plan or policy year beginning on or after Sept. 12, 2015.
