{"abstract":"The United States has a long history of providing conscience protections in the regulation of health care for entities and individuals with objections based on religious beliefs and moral convictions. These interim final rules expand exemptions to protect religious beliefs for certain entities and individuals whose health plans are subject to a mandate of contraceptive coverage through guidance issued pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. These rules do not alter the discretion of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a component of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to maintain the guidelines requiring contraceptive coverage where no regulatorily recognized objection exists. These rules also leave the \"accommodation\" process in place as an optional process for certain exempt entities that wish to use it voluntarily. These rules do not alter multiple other Federal programs that provide free or subsidized contraceptives for women at risk of unintended pregnancy.","action":"Interim final rules with request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY","name":"Treasury Department","id":497,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/treasury-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/497","parent_id":null,"slug":"treasury-department"},{"raw_name":"Internal Revenue Service","name":"Internal Revenue Service","id":254,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/internal-revenue-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/254","parent_id":497,"slug":"internal-revenue-service"},{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Employee Benefits Security Administration","name":"Employee Benefits Security Administration","id":131,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/employee-benefits-security-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/131","parent_id":271,"slug":"employee-benefits-security-administration"},{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","name":"Health and Human Services Department","id":221,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/health-and-human-services-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/221","parent_id":null,"slug":"health-and-human-services-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2017/10/13/2017-21851.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":54,"title":26},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":2590,"title":29},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":147,"title":45}],"citation":"82 FR 47792","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: These interim final rules and temporary regulations are effective on October 6, 2017.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["TD-9827","CMS-9940-IFC"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2017-21851","effective_on":"2017-10-06","end_page":47835,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2017/10/13/2017-21851.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/10/13/2017-21851/religious-exemptions-and-accommodations-for-coverage-of-certain-preventive-services-under-the","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2017-21851?publication_date=2017-10-13","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2017-10-13/2017-21851/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":44,"page_views":{"count":19884,"last_updated":"2026-04-23 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-10-13/pdf/2017-21851.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2017-21851.pdf?1507302928","publication_date":"2017-10-13","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2017/10/13/2017-21851.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1545-BN92":{"issue":"201810","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1545-BN92/religious-exemptions-and-accommodations-for-coverage-of-certain-preventive-services-under-the-afford","title":"Religious Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201810&RIN=1545-BN92&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"},"0938-AT20":null,"1210-AB83":{"issue":"201810","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1210-AB83/religious-exemptions-and-accommodations-for-coverage-of-certain-preventive-services-under-the-afford","title":"Religious Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201810&RIN=1210-AB83&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0938-AT20","1210-AB83","1545-BN92"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=EBSA_FRDOC_0001","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"EBSA_FRDOC_0001","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"Recently Posted EBSA Rules and Notices.","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2017-11-05T05:01:25Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":47792,"subtype":null,"title":"Religious Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act","toc_doc":"Religious Exemptions and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain Preventive Services under the Affordable Care Act","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Employee benefit plans","Excise taxes","Health care","Health insurance","Pensions","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements"],"type":"Rule","volume":82}