No coincidence.
Via Washington Examiner:
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius finalized the contraception mandate in Obamacare today, one day after a federal circuit court ruled that the regulation is probably an unconstitutional violation of religious liberties.
“The health care law guarantees millions of women access to recommended preventive services at no cost,” Sebelius said in a statement today. “Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to respect the concerns of houses of worship and other non-profit religious organizations that object to contraceptive coverage, while helping to ensure that women get the care they need, regardless of where they work.”
HHS said that the final rule includes an “accommodation” for non-profit religious institutions that oppose the use of contraception. “Under the accommodation these organizations will not have to contract, arrange, pay for or refer contraceptive coverage to which they object on religious grounds, but such coverage is separately provided to women enrolled in their health plans at no cost,” HHS said.
Yesterday, though, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed a lawsuit challenging the mandate, filed by the Christian owners of a for-profit business, to proceed because the owners had “established a likelihood of success” in their effort to have the regulation struck down.