The Obama administration proposed new rules Friday that would guarantee widespread access to contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act, but seemed unlikely to head off legal battles that could return a part of the health care law to the Supreme Court.
The regulations allow religious nonprofit organizations that morally object to contraceptives to not offer that benefit to their employees. But their workers would also receive a private insurance policy providing birth control coverage at no cost.
Some religious groups criticized the proposed rules, but women's health groups, which have been vociferous advocates of the contraceptives provision, quickly lauded the administration's decision.