National Women's Law Center Submits Amicus Brief in Cases Challenging Health Care Law's Contraceptive Coverage Benefit

(Washington, D.C.) The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) this week submitted amicus briefs in two cases that challenge the health care law’s contraceptive coverage benefit: Autocam v. Sebelius in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. v. Sebelius in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. At the heart of both cases is whether a for-profit company must comply with an important benefit in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that ensures women have access to insurance coverage for birth control without any out-of-pocket costs.

Autocam Corporation is a Michigan-based manufacturing business comprised of two major divisions: Autocam Automotive manufactures parts for transportation, and Autocam Medical produces medical equipment. Hobby Lobby is a national craft supply chain headquartered in Oklahoma, with 525 locations and over 13,000 employees across the country.

NWLC’s brief in both cases underscores the compelling and vitally important interests the government has in requiring the contraceptive coverage benefit – namely, improving public health and gender equality.

The following statement is from NWLC Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights Judy Waxman:

“Both Autocam Corporation and Hobby Lobby challenge the contraceptive coverage regulations implemented by the Department of Health & Human Services on several grounds, including an alleged violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This challenge must fail. There is no violation of religious freedom here, because the regulations in the ACA do not substantially burden company owners’ exercise of religion. Employers are free to exercise their religion as they see fit, but they cannot impose their beliefs on their employees.

“The Center’s brief focuses on the compelling governmental interests promoted by these regulations, which protect women’s ability to control their reproductive lives and guarantee their ability to access preventive health services free from employer interference. The regulations promote the health of women and their children by preventing unintended pregnancies and advance gender equality by giving women the ability to participate in society to their fullest potential.”

The National Women’s Law Center is joined on these briefs by a wide range of national, state and regional organizations dedicated to ensuring women’s access to this critically important benefit.

For more information, visit:
http://www.nwlc.org/resource/nwlc-amicus-brief-supporting-contraceptive-coverage-benefit
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