MADISON — Governor Scott Walker has signed Assembly Bill 128 into law as 2017 Wisconsin Act 91.
The act bans abortion coverage in public employee insurance policies by prohibiting Wisconsin’s Group Insurance Board from entering into any contract with respect to a group health insurance plan or providing a group health insurance plan on a self-insured basis if, with certain exceptions, the plan provides abortion services to state employees under the Wisconsin Retirement System.
Editor’s note: Cathy Lins and Marie Lins will be providing coverage of the visit of Pope Francis for the Catholic Herald (print paper, website (www.madisoncatholicherald.org), Facebook, and Twitter), in addition to coverage provided by Catholic News Service.
The Diocese of Madison issued the following statement in regard to the Supreme Court decision regarding contraception in employee health insurance coverage.
MADISON — The Supreme Court ruling on Monday, June 30, is a positive step toward recognizing the truth that the God-given freedom of religion and freedom of conscience cannot be disregarded by the government in its attempt to force its own beliefs on people of faith.
It must be recognized that the freedoms of religion and conscience can never be relegated to a church, synagogue, or mosque, and that they are the rights of every individual, conferred by God.
To the editor:
In response to the letter concerning “big government” and the Affordable Care Act in the December 26 issue of the Catholic Herald, I would like to express support for the new health care law.
For decades, we, as a country, have let the insurance companies deny health care to those with pre-existing conditions.
Normally this column addresses state policy issues. This time it speaks to a national question — the scope of religious liberty in our national health care reform legislation.
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule forcing nearly all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as surgical sterilization. These are listed among “preventive services” for women.
Nearly all health plans will have to cover these services without co-pays or other cost-sharing. The mandate applies regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or even the woman herself, objects to such coverage.
Normally this column addresses state policy issues. This time it speaks to a national question — the scope of religious liberty in our national health care reform legislation.
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule forcing nearly all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as surgical sterilization. These are listed among “preventive services” for women.
Nearly all health plans will have to cover these services without co-pays or other cost-sharing. The mandate applies regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or even the woman herself, objects to such coverage.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of Milwaukee, will succeed the retiring Edward Cardinal Egan as Archbishop of New York on Wednesday, April 15.
