Feds Issue Rules for Companies Denying Birth Control Coverage

Some for-profit firms can claim religious objections to avoid covering birth control for their employees, under rules finalized Friday that provide a formal framework after a Supreme Court decision last year.

The rules, which build on a case tied to the Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. chain, say the boards of closely held firms would need to formally adopt a resolution stating their objection to contraception in order to qualify. The rules also include a way for women employed by those firms to obtain birth control coverage, the Department of Health & Human Services said Friday.