January 28, 2014 – Ibis is excited to join nearly 70 reproductive rights, health and justice organizations in signing on to an amicus brief submitted by the National Women’s Law Center in the consolidated cases Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius. The Supreme Court will hear the cases later this year, and the ruling will have a huge impact on contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
The plaintiffs in these cases are for-profit corporations that are seeking an exemption from the requirement that employers provide health insurance for their workers that includes birth control coverage. They argue that that the requirement is a violation of their right to religious freedom under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. However, numerous public health and reproductive rights experts, including the 68 organizations that signed on to the brief, argue that the mandate is not only constitutional, but also that increasing access to contraception improves public health and gender equality.
Ibis is committed to ensuring women receive the full benefits of no-cost-sharing contraceptive coverage as intended under the Affordable Care Act.