Health and Science

High court sets back Obamacare contraception rule

Reuters with AP
WATCH LIVE
Activists with opposing views about contraceptive health care mix outside the Supreme Court March 25, 2014 in Washington, DC.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Monday threw out an appeals court decision that went against the University of Notre Dame over its religious objection to the Obamacare health law's contraception requirement.

The justices asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its decision in favor of the Obama administration in light of the June 2014 Supreme Court ruling that allowed closely held corporations to seek exemptions from the provision.

Notre Dame is among dozens of religious organizations that have challenged a compromise in the Affordable Care Act offered by the Obama administration to faith-based groups. The compromise attempts to create a buffer for faith-based groups that oppose birth control, while ensuring that women still can obtain contraceptives free of charge.

The federal appeals court in Chicago ruled against Notre Dame, but that occurred before the Supreme Court decided the Hobby Lobby case in favor of corporations with similar objections.

Now the appellate panel must revisit its ruling in light of the Hobby Lobby decision.

—The Associated Press contributed to this story.