The Obama Administration took a bold step to ensure contraception coverage for women under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) when their non-profit employers won’t provide it because of religious convictions. It’s also trying to deal with the problem created by the Supreme Court Hobby Lobby ruling that allows closely-held private companies to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage.
If a religious organization or a non-profit decides it won’t provide contraception coverage because of its religious beliefs, that’s its right according to a recent Supreme court ruling. But the Obama Administration’s new regulation aims to protect the rights of women employees.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell said, “Women across the country deserve access to recommended preventive services that are important to their health, no matter where they work.”
Here’s how they’ll get coverage.
Non-Profits
If a non-profit objects to providing contraceptive coverage on religious grounds, they can notify HHS in writing about their objection.
HHS and the Department of Labor will then notify insurers and third party administrators so that women enrolled in their plans can get separate coverage for contraceptive services at no additional cost to the employee or employer.
Closely-Held Companies
The Obama Administration also wants comment about a proposed rule that would give employees of closely-held for-profit companies like Hobby Lobby the opportunity to get coverage when their employer opts out.
In a news release, HHS said, “Under the proposal, these companies would not have to contract, arrange, pay or refer for contraceptive coverage to which they object on religious grounds. The proposal seeks comment on how to define a closely-held for-profit company and whether other steps might be appropriate to implement this policy.”
What do you think? Comment and give your opinion.
Two-year-old Muhammadou, neatly dressed in a striped Calvin Klein tank top, green shorts and sandals, looks like his 6’4″ dad’s Mini-Me. He tugs at his Amadou’s legs and grins showing all his tiny teeth. There’s almost no clearing for the toddler to play without bumping into his father or mother. His four-year-old sister Mame was sent to stay with family in Senegal because the apartment is too small to hold the four of them.
Companies like Viltex, a for-profit recycler based in Newark, NJ, puts its own bins out on city streets.
“Despite the national Do Not Call Registry, strict rules concerning robocalls, and other protections, unwanted and fraudulent phone calls are still plaguing American consumers,” said Susan Grant, Director of Consumer Protection at CFA.
The law enforcement officers, two U.S. Marshals and an NYPD detective, part of the fugitive task force,were doing their job. They followed a lead to a head shop on West 4th to arrest suspected child molester Charles Mozdir.
Two years ago, the Coronado Police Department in the San Diego, California area put out a fugitive alert for him. It’s safe to say that Mozdir was the worst kind of creep. He’d been taking care of friends’ four year old son while he was ill, and the little boy told his parents that Mozdir abused him.
The Fugitive Squad found Mozdir working in the smoke shop. Investigators, as of this posting, are still figuring out what happened. But it’s thought that NYPD detective Mario Munoz entered the store first. He saw Mozdir and went out to get the marshals waiting on the narrow sidewalk. When the three went in, Mozdir opened fire, according to Police Commissioner William Bratton.
He leaned into the crowd and asked, “You know why were here? For you and your family. Full day pre-K. Free. Spread the word.”
Gerta heard the mayor loud and clear.
de Blasio treated the outing like a campaign event. He worked his way through the crowd and up the stairs to Barry’s Beauty Bar, a popular Flatbush Avenue salon. He chatted up the ladies and asked them to share the news about the expanded pre-K program.
Dorvil told us he hoped to get information about pre-K for his four-year-old nephew Mike. And when father and daughter did get close to de Blasio the mayor suggested that those who know someone who needs pre-K should sign up soon. “Don’t wait,” he said repeatedly. “Promise me you’ll spread the word and get children signed up right away.”
Towering above most everyone, Mayor de Blasio stopped to take photos and make his pitch to get the word out that pre-K slots are available now in the expanded community-based program.
In Total Hair Salon on Church Avenue the beauticians and customers left their chairs to follow him around the big shop.
He certainly chose the right audience. A sign at the front of the shop read, “Please do not bring your children to store while you are working. This is not a daycare.”
The funeral of 40-year-old New York City Fire Department Lt. Gordon Matthew Ambelas served as a reminder to us all of what heroism really means. The fallen FDNY firefighter defines heroism.
Two fire trucks from houses where Lt. Ambelas worked led the funeral procession, followed by the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums wearing traditional kilts. They played a rhythmic dirge on drums covered in black and after them came firefighters who flanked the fire truck that carried the American flag-draped coffin of Lt. Ambelas.
Next time someone mentions the word hero, think about Lt. Gordon Matthew Ambelas.
