Pennsylvania Federal Judge Enjoins Enforcement of ACA Contraceptive Coverage Rules

Summary

A federal judge in Philadelphia has issued a nationwide injunction against enforcement of regulations that would expand the categories of employers who can refuse to provide contraceptive coverage to employees on religious or moral grounds (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Trump, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6161 (E.D. Pa. Jan. 14, 2019), The ruling by U.S. Judge Wendy Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania blocks enforcement of two regulations that would have taken effect on Jan. 14. Religious Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act, 83 FR 57,526 and Moral Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act, 83 FR 57,592. While religious organizations were already exempted from the obligation to provide coverage, the new regulations would apply to non-religious employers, including publicly traded companies.