Contraceptive Coverage in Healthcare Opt out Rules Issued  

Religious organizations objecting to the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage mandate no longer must notify their health plan insurers or third-party administrators about the need to offer this coverage separately for no cost. Under interim rules issued Aug. 22, these organizations can opt to have the Department of Health and Human Services or, if self-insured, the Labor Department handle these notices. The agencies also have proposed rules to expand the contraceptive coverage opt-out process to closely held, for-profit entities, consistent with the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling.