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President Barack Obama’s administration has taken flack recently for legislation that requires all medical institutions — including religious institutions — to provide health insurance that covers
conceptive services.

Ohio’s first District Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood, introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012 on Feb. 3 to overturn Obama’s health-insurance policy.

“I’m disgusted that the Obama administration would ignore the fundamental beliefs of our faith-based institutions and cram yet another mandate down our throats,” Chabot said. This shows blatant disregard for the religious liberty we enjoy as Americans.”

“The Obama Administration has been characterized by greater regulation and mandates, but this crosses a clear line of conscience.”

After a week of political pressure, Obama announced a few changes to his administration’s policy — which finds its roots in the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act — announcing employers would not have to pay for conceptive services as part of their coverage, and instead, insurance companies who cover employees would pay the cost.

“President Obama clearly felt the heat over the new Obamacare contraceptives mandate and is now trying to walk back the decision,” said Chabot, in an issued statement late last week after the president made the decision to change the policy. “But the president is off base with his compromise.  The solution is not to shift the mandate to the insurance companies, it’s to repeal this intrusive breach of religious liberties altogether.”

Chabot noted in his press release that the Obama Administration ignored requests for religious exemptions to be made for faith-based groups.

“We think the Obama ruling is consistent with the expert panel,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “Ninety-nine percent of American women will use contraceptives at one point in their lives.”

Twenty-six states have already passed legislation similar to Chabot’s, called contraceptive equity laws, Copeland said.

“Women spend the majority of their adult lives being fertile, and many people limit the number of children they have,” Copeland said. “Clearly this is common health care; this is used by 99 percent of women in their adult lives.”

Unfortunately, many opponents of the contraceptive mandate will not be satisfied with the new development, Copeland said.

“No woman in America should have to beg her health care provider for basic health care,” Copeland said. “This controversy is,
frankly, manufactured.”

Church’s are exempt under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Those health care providers who oppose the contraception mandate are now appeased by the new accommodation to allow them to opt out of the mandate made by Obama, Copeland said.