To the editor:
A letter published in the Catholic Herald on April 24, 2014, claimed that the HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) mandate “demands that all hospitals and clinics providing health care must also do abortions on demand to all requests . . .”
This claim has no basis in fact. I am saddened that the writer, surely a well meaning and passionate person, is so poorly informed. In choosing to publish his letter, the Catholic Herald has done a disservice to its readers, and to the truth.
Stephen Wright, Madison
Editor’s note: The Affordable Care Act does say that health plans cannot be required to cover abortions as part of their essential health benefits package. Health plans can choose to cover: no abortions, only those abortions allowed by the Hyde Amendment (rape, incest, and life endangerment), or abortions beyond those allowed by Hyde. Therefore, there is a large “loophole” for health plans to provide coverage for abortions. As of April 2014, many states have included abortion coverage in their plans.