RIN 1545-BJ60, 8725-8730 [2012-3547]

Agencies

• Employee Benefits Security Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Internal Revenue Service
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8725-8730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3547]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 54

[TD 9578]


RIN 1545-BJ60

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

29 CFR Part 2590

RIN 1210-AB44

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

45 CFR Part 147

[CMS-9992-F]
RIN 0938-AQ74

Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to 
Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act

AGENCIES: Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; 
Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor; Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Final rules.

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SUMMARY: These regulations finalize, without change, interim final 
regulations authorizing the exemption of group health plans and group 
health insurance coverage sponsored by certain religious employers from 
having to cover certain preventive health services under provisions of 
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

DATES: Effective date. These final regulations are effective on April 
16, 2012.
    Applicability dates. These final regulations generally apply to 
group health plans and group health insurance issuers on April 16, 
2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Turner or Beth Baum, Employee 
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor, at (202) 
693-8335; Karen Levin, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the 
Treasury, at (202) 622-6080; Robert Imes, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
at (410) 786-1565.
    Customer Service Information: Individuals interested in obtaining 
information from the Department of Labor concerning employment-based 
health coverage laws may call the EBSA Toll-Free Hotline at 1-866-444-
EBSA (3272) or visit the Department of Labor's Web site (https://www.dol.gov/ebsa). In addition, information from HHS on private health 
insurance for consumers can be found on the CMS Web site (https://cciio.cms.gov), and on health reform can be found at https://www.HealthCare.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148, 
was enacted on March 23, 2010; the Health Care and Education 
Reconciliation Act of 2010, Public Law 111-152, was enacted on March 
30, 2010 (collectively, the Affordable Care Act). The Affordable Care 
Act reorganizes, amends, and adds to the provisions of part A of title 
XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) relating to group 
health plans and health insurance issuers in the group and individual 
markets. The Affordable Care Act adds section 715(a)(1) to the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and section 9815(a)(1) to the 
Internal Revenue Code (Code) to incorporate the provisions of part A of 
title XXVII of the PHS Act into ERISA and the Code, and make them 
applicable to group health plans.
    Section 2713 of the PHS Act, as added by the Affordable Care Act 
and incorporated into ERISA and the Code, requires that non-
grandfathered group health plans and health insurance issuers offering 
group or individual health insurance coverage provide benefits for 
certain preventive health services without the imposition of cost 
sharing. These preventive health services include, with respect to 
women, preventive care and screening provided for in the comprehensive 
guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) that were issued on August 1, 2011 (HRSA 
Guidelines).\1\ As relevant here, the HRSA Guidelines require coverage, 
without cost sharing, for ``[a]ll Food and Drug Administration [(FDA)] 
approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient 
education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity,'' as 
prescribed by a provider. Except as discussed below, non-grandfathered 
group health plans and health insurance issuers are required to provide 
coverage consistent with the HRSA Guidelines, without cost sharing, in 
plan years (or,

[[Page 8726]]

in the individual market, policy years) beginning on or after August 1, 
2012.\2\ These guidelines were based on recommendations of the 
independent Institute of Medicine, which undertook a review of the 
evidence on women's preventive services.
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    \1\ The HRSA Guidelines can be found at: https://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines.
    \2\ The interim final regulations published by the Departments 
on July 19, 2010, generally provide that plans and issuers must 
cover a newly recommended preventive service starting with the first 
plan year (or, in the individual market, policy year) that begins on 
or after the date that is one year after the date on which the new 
recommendation or guideline is issued. 26 CFR 54.9815-2713T(b)(1); 
29 CFR 2590.715-2713(b)(1); 45 CFR 147.130(b)(1).
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    The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the 
Treasury (the Departments) published interim final regulations 
implementing PHS Act section 2713 on July 19, 2010 (75 FR 41726). In 
the preamble to the interim final regulations, the Departments 
explained that HRSA was developing guidelines related to preventive 
care and screening for women that would be covered without cost sharing 
pursuant to PHS Act section 2713(a)(4), and that these guidelines were 
expected to be issued no later than August 1, 2011. Although comments 
on the anticipated guidelines were not requested in the interim final 
regulations, the Departments received considerable feedback regarding 
which preventive services for women should be covered without cost 
sharing. Some commenters, including some religiously-affiliated 
employers, recommended that these guidelines include contraceptive 
services among the recommended women's preventive services and that the 
attendant coverage requirement apply to all group health plans and 
health insurance issuers. Other commenters, however, recommended that 
group health plans sponsored by religiously-affiliated employers be 
allowed to exclude contraceptive services from coverage under their 
plans if the employers deem such services contrary to their religious 
tenets, noting that some group health plans sponsored by organizations 
with a religious objection to contraceptives currently contain such 
exclusions for that reason.
    In response to these comments, the Departments amended the interim 
final regulations to provide HRSA with discretion to establish an 
exemption for group health plans established or maintained by certain 
religious employers (and any group health insurance coverage provided 
in connection with such plans) with respect to any requirement to cover 
contraceptive services that they would otherwise be required to cover 
without cost sharing consistent with the HRSA Guidelines. The amended 
interim final regulations were issued and effective on August 1, 
2011.\3\ The amended interim final regulations specified that, for 
purposes of this exemption, a religious employer is one that: (1) Has 
the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily 
employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves 
persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a non-profit 
organization described in section 6033(a)(1) and section 
6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii) of the Code. Section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) and 
(iii) of the Code refers to churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and 
conventions or associations of churches, as well as to the exclusively 
religious activities of any religious order. In the HRSA Guidelines, 
HRSA exercised its discretion under the amended interim final 
regulations such that group health plans established and maintained by 
these religious employers (and any group health insurance coverage 
provided in connection with such plans) are not required to cover 
contraceptive services.
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    \3\ The amendment to the interim final regulations was published 
on August 3, 2011, at 76 FR 46621.
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    In the preamble to the amended interim final regulations, the 
Departments explained that it was appropriate that HRSA take into 
account the religious beliefs of certain religious employers where 
coverage of contraceptive services is concerned. The Departments noted 
that a religious exemption is consistent with the policies in some 
States that currently both require contraceptive services coverage 
under State law and provide for some type of religious exemption from 
their contraceptive services coverage requirement. Comments were 
requested on the amended interim final regulations, specifically with 
respect to the definition of religious employer, as well as alternative 
definitions.

II. Overview of the Public Comments on the Amended Interim Final 
Regulations

    The Departments received over 200,000 responses to the request for 
comments on the amended interim final regulations. Commenters included 
concerned citizens, civil rights organizations, consumer groups, health 
care providers, health insurance issuers, sponsors of group health 
plans, religiously-affiliated charities, religiously-affiliated 
educational institutions, religiously-affiliated health care 
organizations, other religiously-affiliated organizations, secular 
organizations, sponsors of group health plans, women's religious 
orders, and women's rights organizations.
    Some commenters recommended that the exemption for the group health 
plans of a limited group of religious organizations as formulated in 
the amended interim final regulations be maintained. Other commenters 
urged that the definition of religious employer be broadened so that 
more sponsors of group health plans would qualify for the exemption. 
Others urged that the exemption be rescinded in its entirety. The 
Departments summarize below the major issues raised in the comments 
that were received.
    Some commenters supported the inclusion of contraceptive services 
in the HRSA Guidelines and urged that the religious employer exemption 
be rescinded in its entirety due to the importance of extending these 
benefits to as many women as possible. For example, one provider 
association commented that all group health plans and group health 
insurance issuers should offer the same benefits to plan participants, 
without a religious exemption for some plans, and that religious 
beliefs are more appropriately taken into account by individuals when 
making personal health care decisions. Others urged that the exemption 
be eliminated because making contraceptive services available to all 
women would satisfy a basic health care need and would significantly 
reduce long-term health care costs associated with unplanned 
pregnancies.
    Some of the commenters supporting the elimination of the exemption 
argued that section 2713 of the PHS Act does not provide any explicit 
basis for exempting a subset of group health plans. One commenter 
asserted that Congress's incorporation of section 2713 of the PHS Act 
into ERISA and the Code indicates its intent to require coverage of 
recommended preventive services under section 2713 of the PHS Act in 
the broadest spectrum of group health plans possible.
    Many commenters that opposed the exemption asked that, at a 
minimum, the Departments not expand the definition of religious 
employer. Alternatively, they asked that, if the Departments decided to 
base the relevant portion of the definition of religious employer on a 
Code section other than section 6033, the other portions of the 
definition of religious employer be retained to limit the exemption 
largely to houses of worship.
    Some commenters urged the Departments not to modify the definition 
of religious employer. For example, some commenters asserted that the 
exemption is appropriately

[[Page 8727]]

targeted at houses of worship, rather than a larger set of religiously-
affiliated organizations. Others argued that, while the exemption 
addresses legitimate religious concerns, its scope is already broader 
than necessary and should not be expanded.
    Commenters opposing any exemption stated that, if the exemption 
were to be retained, clear notice should be provided to the affected 
plan participants that their group health plans do not include benefits 
for contraceptive services. In addition, they urged the Departments to 
monitor plans to ensure that the exemption is not claimed more broadly 
than permitted.
    On the other hand, a number of comments asserted that the religious 
employer exemption is too narrow. These commenters included some 
religiously-affiliated educational institutions, health care 
organizations, and charities. Some of these commenters expressed 
concern that the exemption for religious employers will not allow them 
to continue their current exclusion of contraceptive services from 
coverage under their group health plans. Others expressed concerns 
about paying for such services and stated that doing so would be 
contrary to their religious beliefs.
    Commenters also claimed that Federal laws, including the Affordable 
Care Act, have provided for conscience clauses and religious exemptions 
broader than that provided for in the amended interim final 
regulations. Some commenters asserted that the narrower scope of the 
exemption raises concerns under the First Amendment and the Religious 
Freedom Restoration Act.
    Other commenters, however, disputed claims that the contraceptive 
coverage requirement infringes on rights protected by the First 
Amendment or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. These commenters 
noted that the requirement is neutral and generally applicable. They 
also explained that the requirement does not substantially burden 
religious exercise and, in any event, serves compelling governmental 
interests and is the least restrictive means to achieve those 
interests.
    Some religiously-affiliated employers warned that, if the 
definition of religious employer is not broadened, they could cease to 
offer health coverage to their employees in order to avoid having to 
offer coverage to which they object on religious grounds.
    Commenters supporting a broadening of the definition of religious 
employer proposed a number of options, generally intended to expand the 
scope of the exemption to include religiously-affiliated educational 
institutions, health care organizations, and charities. In some 
instances, in place of the definition that was adopted in the amended 
interim final regulations, commenters suggested other State insurance 
law definitions of religious employer. In other instances, commenters 
referenced alternative standards, such as tying the exemption to the 
definition of ``church plan'' under section 414(e) of the Code or to 
status as a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

III. Overview of the Final Regulations

    In response to these comments, the Departments carefully considered 
whether to eliminate the religious employer exemption or to adopt an 
alternative definition of religious employer, including whether the 
exemption should be extended to a broader set of religiously-affiliated 
sponsors of group health plans and group health insurance coverage. For 
the reasons discussed below, the Departments are adopting the 
definition in the amended interim final regulations for purposes of 
these final regulations while also creating a temporary enforcement 
safe harbor, discussed below. During the temporary enforcement safe 
harbor, the Departments plan to develop and propose changes to these 
final regulations that would meet two goals--providing contraceptive 
coverage without cost-sharing to individuals who want it and 
accommodating non-exempted, non-profit organizations' religious 
objections to covering contraceptive services as also discussed below.
    PHS Act section 2713 reflects a determination by Congress that 
coverage of recommended preventive services by non-grandfathered group 
health plans and health insurance issuers without cost sharing is 
necessary to achieve basic health care coverage for more Americans. 
Individuals are more likely to use preventive services if they do not 
have to satisfy cost sharing requirements (such as a copayment, 
coinsurance, or a deductible). Use of preventive services results in a 
healthier population and reduces health care costs by helping 
individuals avoid preventable conditions and receive treatment 
earlier.\4\ Further, Congress, by amending the Affordable Care Act 
during the Senate debate to ensure that recommended preventive services 
for women are covered adequately by non-grandfathered group health 
plans and group health insurance coverage, recognized that women have 
unique health care needs and burdens. Such needs include contraceptive 
services.\5\
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    \4\ Inst. of Med., Clinical Preventive Services for Women: 
Closing the Gaps, Wash., DC: Nat'l Acad. Press, 2011, at p. 16.
    \5\ Inst. of Med., Clinical Preventive Services for Women: 
Closing the Gaps, Wash. DC: Nat'l Acad. Press, 2011, at p. 9; see 
also Sonfield, A., The Case for Insurance Coverage of Contraceptive 
Services and Supplies Without Cost Sharing, 14 Guttmacher Pol'y Rev. 
10 (2011), available at https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/14/1/gpr140107.html.
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    As documented in a report of the Institute of Medicine, ``Clinical 
Preventive Services for Women, Closing the Gaps,'' women experiencing 
an unintended pregnancy may not immediately be aware that they are 
pregnant, and thus delay prenatal care. They also may not be as 
motivated to discontinue behaviors that pose pregnancy-related risks 
(e.g., smoking, consumption of alcohol). Studies show a greater risk of 
preterm birth and low birth weight among unintended pregnancies 
compared with pregnancies that were planned.\6\ Contraceptives also 
have medical benefits for women who are contraindicated for pregnancy, 
and there are demonstrated preventive health benefits from 
contraceptives relating to conditions other than pregnancy (e.g., 
treatment of menstrual disorders, acne, and pelvic pain).\7\
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    \6\ Gipson, J.D., et al., The Effects of Unintended Pregnancy on 
Infant, Child and Parental Health: A Review of the Literature, 
Studies on Family Planning, 2008, 39(1):18-38.
    \7\ Inst. of Med., Clinical Preventive Services for Women: 
Closing the Gaps, Wash., DC: Nat'l Acad. Press, 2011, at p. 107.
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    In addition, there are significant cost savings to employers from 
the coverage of contraceptives. A 2000 study estimated that it would 
cost employers 15 to17 percent more not to provide contraceptive 
coverage in employee health plans than to provide such coverage, after 
accounting for both the direct medical costs of pregnancy and the 
indirect costs such as employee absence and reduced productivity.\8\ In 
fact, when contraceptive coverage was added to the Federal Employees 
Health Benefits Program, premiums did not increase because there was no 
resulting

[[Page 8728]]

health care cost increase.\9\ Further, the cost savings of covering 
contraceptive services have already been recognized by States and also 
within the health insurance industry. Twenty-eight States now have laws 
requiring health insurance issuers to cover contraceptives. A 2002 
study found that more than 89 percent of insured plans cover 
contraceptives.\10\ A 2010 survey of employers revealed that 85 percent 
of large employers and 62 percent of small employers offered coverage 
of FDA-approved contraceptives.\11\
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    \8\ Testimony of Guttmacher Inst., submitted to the Comm. on 
Preventive Servs. for Women, Inst. of Med., Jan. 12, 2012, p. 11 
citing Bonoan, R + Gonen, JS, ``Promoting Healthy Pregnancies: 
Counseling and Contraception as the First Step'', Washington 
Business Group on Health, Family Health in Brief, Issue No. 3. 
August 2000; see also Sonfield, A., The Case for Insurance Coverage 
of Contraceptive Services and Supplies without Cost Sharing, 14 
Guttmacher Pol'y Rev. 10 (2011); Mavranezouli, I., Health Economics 
of Contraception, 23 Best Practice & Res. Clinical Obstetrics & 
Gynaecology 187-198 (2009); Trussell, J., et al., Cost Effectiveness 
of Contraceptives in the United States, 79 Contraception 5-14 
(2009); Trussell, J., The Cost of Unintended Pregnancy in the United 
States, 75 Contraception 168-170 (2007).
    \9\ Dailard, C., Special Analysis: The Cost of Contraceptive 
Insurance Coverage, Guttmacher Rep. on Public Pol'y (March 2003).
    \10\ Sonfield, A., et al., U.S. Insurance Coverage of 
Contraceptives and the Impact of Contraceptive Coverage Mandates, 
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 36(2):72-79, 2002.
    \11\ Claxton, G., et al., Employer Health Benefits: 2010 Annual 
Survey, Menlo Park, Cal.: Kaiser Family Found. and Chi., Ill.: 
Health Research & Educ. Trust, 2010.
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    Furthermore, in directing non-grandfathered group health plans and 
health insurance issuers to cover preventive services and screenings 
for women described in HRSA-supported guidelines without cost sharing, 
Congress determined that both existing health coverage and existing 
preventive services recommendations often did not adequately serve the 
unique health needs of women. This disparity places women in the 
workforce at a disadvantage compared to their male co-workers. 
Researchers have shown that access to contraception improves the social 
and economic status of women.\12\ Contraceptive coverage, by reducing 
the number of unintended and potentially unhealthy pregnancies, 
furthers the goal of eliminating this disparity by allowing women to 
achieve equal status as healthy and productive members of the job 
force. Research also shows that cost sharing can be a significant 
barrier to effective contraception.\13\ As the Institute of Medicine 
noted, owing to reproductive and sex-specific conditions, women use 
preventive services more than men, generating significant out-of-pocket 
expenses for women.\14\ The Departments aim to reduce these disparities 
by providing women broad access to preventive services, including 
contraceptive services.
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    \12\ Testimony of Guttmacher Inst., submitted to the Comm. on 
Preventive Servs. for Women, Inst. of Med., Jan. 12, 2012, p.6, 
citing Goldin C and Katz L, Career and marriage in the age of the 
pill, American Economic Review, 2000, 90(2):461-465; Goldin C and 
Katz LF, The power of the pill: oral contraceptives and women's 
career and marriage decisions, Journal of Political Economy, 2002, 
110(4):730-770; and Bailey MJ, More power to the pill: the impact of 
contraceptive freedom on women's life cycle labor supply, Quarterly 
Journal of Economics, 2006, 121(1):289-320.
    \13\ Postlethwaite, D., et al., A Comparison of Contraceptive 
Procurement Pre- and Post-Benefit Change, 76 Contraception 360 
(2007).
    \14\ Inst. of Med., Clinical Preventive Services for Women: 
Closing the Gaps, Wash., DC: Nat'l Acad. Press, 2011, p.19.
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    The religious employer exemption in the final regulations does not 
undermine the overall benefits described above. A group health plan 
(and health insurance coverage provided in connection with such a plan) 
qualifies for the exemption if, among other qualifications, the plan is 
established and maintained by an employer that primarily employs 
persons who share the religious tenets of the organization. As such, 
the employees of employers availing themselves of the exemption would 
be less likely to use contraceptives even if contraceptives were 
covered under their health plans.
    A broader exemption, as urged by some commenters, would lead to 
more employees having to pay out of pocket for contraceptive services, 
thus making it less likely that they would use contraceptives, which 
would undermine the benefits described above. Employers that do not 
primarily employ employees who share the religious tenets of the 
organization are more likely to employ individuals who have no 
religious objection to the use of contraceptive services and therefore 
are more likely to use contraceptives. Including these employers within 
the scope of the exemption would subject their employees to the 
religious views of the employer, limiting access to contraceptives, and 
thereby inhibiting the use of contraceptive services and the benefits 
of preventive care.
    The Departments note that this religious exemption is intended 
solely for purposes of the contraceptive services coverage requirement 
pursuant to PHS Act section 2713 and the companion provisions of ERISA 
and the Code.
    The Departments also note that some group health plans sponsored by 
employers that do not satisfy the definition of religious employer in 
these final regulations may be grandfathered health plans \15\ and thus 
are not subject to any of the preventive services coverage requirements 
of section 2713 of the PHS Act, including the contraceptive coverage 
requirement.
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    \15\ See section 1251 of the Affordable Care Act and its 
implementing regulations at 26 CFR 54.9815-1251T; 29 CFR 2590.715-
1251; 45 CFR 147.140.
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    With respect to certain non-exempted, non-profit organizations with 
religious objections to covering contraceptive services whose group 
health plans are not grandfathered health plans, guidance is being 
issued contemporaneous with these final regulations that provides a 
one-year safe harbor from enforcement by the Departments.
    Before the end of the temporary enforcement safe harbor, the 
Departments will work with stakeholders to develop alternative ways of 
providing contraceptive coverage without cost sharing with respect to 
non-exempted, non-profit religious organizations with religious 
objections to such coverage. Specifically, the Departments plan to 
initiate a rulemaking to require issuers to offer insurance without 
contraception coverage to such an employer (or plan sponsor) and 
simultaneously to offer contraceptive coverage directly to the 
employer's plan participants (and their beneficiaries) who desire it, 
with no cost-sharing. Under this approach, the Departments will also 
require that, in this circumstance, there be no charge for the 
contraceptive coverage. Actuaries and experts have found that coverage 
of contraceptives is at least cost neutral when taking into account all 
costs and benefits in the health plan.\16\ The Departments intend to 
develop policies to achieve the same goals for self-insured group 
health plans sponsored by non-exempted, non-profit religious 
organizations with religious objections to contraceptive coverage.
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    \16\ Bertko, John, F.S.A., M.A.A.A., Director of Special 
Initiatives and Pricing in the Center for Consumer Information and 
Insurance Oversight at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, Glied, Sherry, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Planning and 
Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (ASPE/HHS), 
Miller, Erin, MPH, (ASPE/HHS), Wilson, Lee, (ASPE/HHS), Simmons, 
Adelle, (ASPE/HHS), ``The Cost of Covering Contraceptives through 
Health Insurance,'' (9 February 2012), available at: https://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2012/contraceptives/ib.shtml.
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    A future rulemaking would be informed by the existing practices of 
some issuers and religious organizations in the 28 States where 
contraception coverage requirements already exist, including Hawaii. 
There, State health insurance law requires issuers to offer plan 
participants in group health plans sponsored by religious employers 
that are exempt from the State contraception coverage requirement the 
option to purchase this coverage in a way that religious employers are 
not obligated to fund it. It is our understanding that, in practice, 
rather than charging employees a separate fee, some issuers in Hawaii 
offer this coverage to plan participants at no charge. The Departments 
will work with stakeholders to propose and

[[Page 8729]]

finalize this policy before the end of the temporary enforcement safe 
harbor.
    Nothing in these final regulations precludes employers or others 
from expressing their opposition, if any, to the use of contraceptives, 
requires anyone to use contraceptives, or requires health care 
providers to prescribe contraceptives if doing so is against their 
religious beliefs. These final regulations do not undermine the 
important protections that exist under conscience clauses and other 
religious exemptions in other areas of Federal law. Conscience 
protections will continue to be respected and strongly enforced.
    This approach is consistent with the First Amendment and Religious 
Freedom Restoration Act. The Supreme Court has held that the First 
Amendment right to free exercise of religion is not violated by a law 
that is not specifically targeted at religiously motivated conduct and 
that applies equally to conduct without regard to whether it is 
religiously motivated--a so-called neutral law of general 
applicability. The contraceptive coverage requirement is generally 
applicable and designed to serve the compelling public health and 
gender equity goals described above, and is in no way specially 
targeted at religion or religious practices. Likewise, this approach 
complies with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which generally 
requires a federal law to not substantially burden religious exercise, 
or, if it does substantially burden religious exercise, to be the least 
restrictive means to further a compelling government interest.

III. Economic Impact and Paperwork Burden

A. Executive Orders 13563 and 12866--Department of Labor and Department 
of Health and Human Services

    Executive Orders 13563 and 12866, among other things, direct 
agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory 
alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory 
approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, 
environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, 
and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing 
rules, and of promoting flexibility. Executive Order 13563 also states 
that where ``appropriate and permitted by law, each agency may consider 
(and discuss qualitatively) values that are difficult or impossible to 
quantify, including equity, human dignity, fairness, and distributive 
impacts.'' These final regulations have been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' although not economically significant, under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, these final 
regulations have been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
1. Need for Regulatory Action
    As stated earlier in this preamble, the Departments previously 
issued amended interim final regulations authorizing an exemption for 
group health plans and health insurance coverage sponsored by certain 
religious employers from certain coverage requirements under PHS Act 
section 2713 (76 FR 46621, August 3, 2011). The Departments have 
determined that it is appropriate to finalize, without change, these 
amended interim final regulations authorizing the exemption of group 
health plans and health insurance coverage sponsored by certain 
religious employers from having to cover certain preventive health 
services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
2. Anticipated Effects
    The Departments expect that these final regulations will not result 
in any additional significant burden or costs to the affected entities.

B. Special Analyses--Department of the Treasury

    For purposes of the Department of the Treasury, it has been 
determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant regulatory 
action for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory 
assessment is not required. It has also been determined that section 
553(b) of the APA (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these final 
regulations, and, because these regulations do not impose a collection 
of information on small entities, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not 
required.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    These final regulations are not subject to the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) because they do not 
contain a ``collection of information'' as defined in 44 U.S.C. 
3502(11).

IV. Statutory Authority

    The Department of the Treasury final regulations are adopted 
pursuant to the authority contained in sections 7805 and 9833 of the 
Code.
    The Department of Labor final regulations are adopted pursuant to 
the authority contained in 29 U.S.C. 1027, 1059, 1135, 1161-1168, 1169, 
1181-1183, 1181 note, 1185, 1185a, 1185b, 1185c, 1185d, 1191, 1191a, 
1191b, and 1191c; sec. 101(g), Public Law104-191, 110 Stat. 1936; sec. 
401(b), Public Law 105-200, 112 Stat. 645 (42 U.S.C. 651 note); sec. 
512(d), Public Law 110-343, 122 Stat. 3881; sec. 1001, 1201, and 
1562(e), Public Law 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, as amended by Public Law 
111-152, 124 Stat. 1029; Secretary of Labor's Order 3-2010, 75 FR 55354 
(September 10, 2010).
    The Department of Health and Human Services final regulations are 
adopted pursuant to the authority contained in sections 2701 through 
2763, 2791, and 2792 of the PHS Act (42 USC 300gg through 300gg-63, 
300gg-91, and 300gg-92), as amended.

List of Subjects

26 CFR Part 54

    Excise taxes, Health care, Health insurance, Pensions, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

29 CFR Part 2590

    Continuation coverage, Disclosure, Employee benefit plans, Group 
health plans, Health care, Health insurance, Medical child support, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

45 CFR Part 147

    Health care, Health insurance, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, and State regulation of health insurance.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Chapter I

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 54 is amended as follows:

PART 54--PENSION EXCISE TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 54 is amended by adding an 
entry for Sec.  54.9815-2713 in numerical order to read in part as 
follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805. * * *
    Section 54.9815-2713 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 9833. * * *


0
Par. 2. Section 54.9815-2713T is amended in paragraph (a)(1)(iii) by 
removing ``; and'' and adding a period in its place, and by removing 
paragraph (a)(1)(iv).

0
Par. 3. Section 54.9815-2713 is added to read as follows:

[[Page 8730]]

Sec.  54.9815-2713  Coverage of preventive health services.

    (a) Services--(1) In general. [Reserved]
    (i) [Reserved]
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (iii) [Reserved]
    (iv) With respect to women, to the extent not described in 
paragraph (a)(1)(i) of Sec.  54.9815-2713T, preventive care and 
screenings provided for in binding comprehensive health plan coverage 
guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services 
Administration and developed in accordance with 45 CFR 
147.130(a)(1)(iv).
    (2) Office visits. [Reserved]
    (3) Out-of-network providers. [Reserved]
    (4) Reasonable medical management. [Reserved]
    (5) Services not described. [Reserved]
    (b) Timing. [Reserved]
    (c) Recommendations not current. [Reserved]
    (d) Effective/applicability date. April 16, 2012.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

29 CFR Chapter XXV

    29 CFR part 2590 is amended as follows:

PART 2590--RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR GROUP HEALTH PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 2590 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  29 U.S.C. 1027, 1059, 1135, 1161-1168, 1169, 1181-
1183, 1181 note, 1185, 1185a, 1185b, 1185c, 1185d, 1191, 1191a, 
1191b, and 1191c; sec. 101(g), Public Law 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936; 
sec. 401(b), Public Law 105-200, 112 Stat. 645 (42 U.S.C. 651 note); 
sec. 512(d), Public Law 110-343, 122 Stat. 3881; sec. 1001, 1201, 
and 1562(e), Public Law 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, as amended by Public 
Law 111-152, 124 Stat. 1029; Secretary of Labor's Order 3-2010, 75 
FR 55354 (September 10, 2010).


0
2. Accordingly, the amendment to the interim final rule with comment 
period amending 29 CFR 2590.715-2713(a)(1)(iv) which was published in 
the Federal Register at 76 FR 46621-46626 on August 3, 2011, is adopted 
as a final rule without change.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

45 CFR Subtitle A

PART 147--HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GROUP AND 
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETS

0
1. The authority citation for part 147 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  2701 through 2763, 2791, and 2792 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg through 300gg-63, 300gg-91, and 
300gg-92), as amended.


0
2. Accordingly, the amendment to the interim final rule with comment 
period amending 45 CFR 147.130(a)(1)(iv) which was published in the 
Federal Register at 76 FR 46621-46626 on August 3, 2011, is adopted as 
a final rule without change.

Steven T. Miller,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement, Internal Revenue 
Service.
    Approved: February 10, 2012.
Emily S. McMahon,
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
    Signed this 10th day, of February 2012.
Phyllis C. Borzi,
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 
Department of Labor.
    Dated: February 10, 2012.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    Dated: February 10, 2012.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-3547 Filed 2-10-12; 3:45 pm]
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