Supreme Court set to hear arguments in ACA contraception cases

Next week the Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of the ACA requirement that employer-sponsored health plans must include contraception coverage (Source: “Justices To Weigh Contraceptive Mandate Against Religious Freedom Claims,” Kaiser Health News, March 20, 2014).

The oral arguments regarding the law's contraception coverage mandate, slated for March 25, will be a rematch between two lawyers who squared off in the first health law challenge -- Obama administration Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. and former Bush administration Solicitor General Paul Clement.

The key question in the two cases being heard by the justices, Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius,is whether privately owned businesses can be fined  $100 a day per worker if their owners refuse on religious grounds to include in their health plans four contraceptive methods that they equate with abortion.