Lawsuit: Obamacare Provides Coverage for Abortion Drugs — But Not for Natural Family Planning

Obamacare for abortion drugs, but not for natural family planning? Who would be surprised?

Dr. Cami Jo Tice-Harouff, a nurse practitioner, is doing something about it. She filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), alleging that the department violated regulations by covering contraceptives and abortifacient drugs and devices and depriving coverage to women who do the “fertility awareness” method.

Tice-Harouff appeared at a hearing on Monday to ask the court to temporarily stop HHS from enforcing the rule. From Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represents Tice-Harouff:

Tice-Harouff assists many of her patients by billing their insurance providers and then donates the proceeds to a non-profit clinic that provides health care to the needy. The Affordable Care Act prevents insurance plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirements on women seeking “preventative care and screenings.” In 2016, HHS included “instruction in fertility awareness-based methods” as part of this requirement.

“Women shouldn’t have to fear losing their doctor and insurance coverage for fertility awareness instruction as a result of back-room government decisions,” ADF attorney Matt Bowman said. “Countless women rely on Dr. Tice-Harouff’s expertise to help them raise families in a manner consistent with their medical needs. It is wrong and unlawful for the Biden administration to push its own, preferred methods of family planning on all women, while not even explaining its decision or responding to public objections.”

Photo credit: American Life League (Creative Commons) – Some rights reserved

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