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White House buckles on contraception mandate

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    James Rosen reports from Washington

  • Duration 2:57
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Good evening I'm Bret -- the Obama administration buckled today in its battle with some.

Religious nonprofit organizations over the requirement that they offer birth control coverage in their health insurance packages.

While today's shift is significant.

It also leaves out a big group that is also suing the government.

Chief Washington correspondent James Rosen tells us what triggered the change.

Under the new rules proposed by health and human services secretary Kathleen Sebelius nonprofit religious employers will be able to opt out of the obamacare mandate for the provision of female contraceptives.

Through their health care plans instead the insurers will be required to provide the coverage which include both standard birth control and items like the morning after pill.

The White House says the modifications meet president Obama's overarching goals.

We had to ensure that women have access to preventive services like contraception.

And that the policy also respects religious beliefs the Catholic league's Bill -- hailed the announcement as a sign of goodwill towards the Catholic community.

But because private sector firms with -- religious objections are not covered by the new proposals and because many insurance firms are apt to shift the absorbed -- back to the employers anyway even if they are not for profit Catholic schools charities -- hospitals.

Virtually all other Catholic groups dismissed the latest HHS move as window dressing.

Religious charities like Catholic Charities are not -- the hot today.

On the contrary they're being forced to contract with the third party to still provide objectionable -- -- Like abortion inducing drugs for their employees.

Today's accommodation.

Is simply -- another version of the old accounting gimmick.

The administration said insurers will deduct the cost of the contraception from the user fees that they pay to the federal government to take part in the insurance marketplaces or exchanges that are established by the obamacare law.

An aid to civilians struggled to explain how that wouldn't leave taxpayers footing the bill.

We believe that the -- providing that coverage.

-- not.

As I've mentioned before -- caught.

It did over Robert pieces fit it will lead to repeat.

-- because preventive services.

There are are they provide coverage in a way that is more.

How well her.

Benefit.

The -- also acknowledged.

We have not estimated to cost me certainly.

Welcome comments on that and as reviewers are -- -- Iranian out says.

The HHS contraception mandate has sparked dozens of lawsuits many by private sector companies -- on religious grounds among them as you saw the hobby lobby.

Which faces fines of more than a million dollars today if it does not comply it's expected the Supreme Court will eventually rule on these cases.

In the meantime the new proposed rules will face sixty days of public comment.

And then likely become wall Brett this summer companies are looking at that James thank you.

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