Paul, Weiss Files Amicus Brief Opposing Expanded Exemptions to Birth Control Benefit

Paul, Weiss filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Health Law Program and the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association in support of Massachusetts’ challenge to interim final rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would allow nearly all employers to deny their employees insurance coverage for contraception if the employer has a religious or moral objection.

The brief, filed in the First Circuit, challenged the ruling of the district court that Massachusetts lacked standing. It focused on HHS’s claim that women who are no longer able to obtain contraceptive coverage through their employers’ health insurance plans could still obtain this coverage through federal safety net programs such as Medicaid and Title X and through Massachusetts-funded programs.  

This is the second of three amicus briefs Paul, Weiss is filing on behalf of the three parties in three similar lawsuits brought by states challenging these interim final rules. The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partner Allan Arffa and associates Crystal Johnson, Elizabeth Grossman, Melina Meneguin Layerenza, and Luke Phillips.