Lower Court Holding in Geneva College v. Burwell
Decision of the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
The Appellees in these consolidated appeals challenge the preventive services requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Particularly, the Appellees object to the ACA’s requirement that contraceptive coverage be provided to their plan participants and beneficiaries. However, the nonprofit Appellees are eligible for an accommodation to the contraceptive coverage requirement, whereby once they advise that they will not pay for the contraceptive services, coverage for those services will be independently provided by an insurance issuer or third-party administrator. The Appellees urge that the accommodation violates RFRA because it forces them…
