The Department of Health and Human Services announced its opposition to a proposal by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) a day before the Senate voted to reject the insurance coverage measure, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Sen. Blunt's proposal would have allowed employers to exclude coverage of any health service they morally or religiously object to in employees' health plans. "The Obama administration believes that decisions about medical care should be made by a woman and her doctor, not a woman and her boss. We encourage the Senate to reject this cynical attempt to roll back decades of progress in women's health," HHS said in a news release yesterday.
Today, the Senate rejected the measure. Democrats argued the proposed amendment intruded on women's rights and the rights of other patients. Republicans said the amendment would protect religious freedom.
Sen. Blunt's proposal comes in the wake of debate between the Obama administration and Catholic leaders over the new law that would require all health plans to cover contraception.
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Sen. Blunt's proposal would have allowed employers to exclude coverage of any health service they morally or religiously object to in employees' health plans. "The Obama administration believes that decisions about medical care should be made by a woman and her doctor, not a woman and her boss. We encourage the Senate to reject this cynical attempt to roll back decades of progress in women's health," HHS said in a news release yesterday.
Today, the Senate rejected the measure. Democrats argued the proposed amendment intruded on women's rights and the rights of other patients. Republicans said the amendment would protect religious freedom.
Sen. Blunt's proposal comes in the wake of debate between the Obama administration and Catholic leaders over the new law that would require all health plans to cover contraception.
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