Sec 20-2329. Prescription contraceptive drugs and devices; definition

A. An accountable health plan that provides a health benefits plan that provides coverage for:

1. Prescription drugs shall also provide coverage for any prescribed drug or device that is approved by the United States food and drug administration for use as a contraceptive. An accountable health plan may use a drug formulary, multitiered drug formulary or list but that formulary or list shall include oral, implant and injectable contraceptive drugs, intrauterine devices and prescription barrier methods if the accountable health plan does not impose deductibles, coinsurance, copayments or other cost containment measures for contraceptive drugs that are greater than the deductibles, coinsurance, copayments or other cost containment measures for other drugs on the same level of the formulary or list.

2. Outpatient health care services shall also provide coverage for outpatient contraceptive services. For the purposes of this paragraph, "outpatient contraceptive services" means consultations, examinations, procedures and medical services provided on an outpatient basis and related to the use of United States food and drug prescription contraceptive methods to prevent unintended pregnancies.

B. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a religiously affiliated employer may require that the accountable health plan provide a health benefits plan without coverage for specific items or services required under subsection A of this section because providing or paying for coverage of the specific items or services is contrary to the religious beliefs of the religiously affiliated employer offering the plan. If a religiously affiliated employer objects to providing coverage for specific items or services required under subsection A of this section, a written affidavit shall be filed with the accountable health plan stating the objection. On receipt of the affidavit, the accountable health plan shall issue to the religiously affiliated employer a health benefits plan that excludes coverage for specific items or services required under subsection A of this section. The accountable health plan shall retain the affidavit for the duration of the health benefits plan and any renewals of the plan.

C. Subsection B of this section shall not exclude coverage for prescription contraceptive methods ordered by a health care provider with prescriptive authority for medical indications other than for contraceptive, abortifacient, abortion or sterilization purposes. A religiously affiliated employer offering the plan may state religious beliefs in its affidavit and may require the enrollee to first pay for the prescription and then submit a claim to the accountable health plan along with evidence that the prescription is not for a purpose covered by the objection. An accountable health plan may charge an administrative fee for handling claims under this subsection.

D. Subsections B and C of this section do not authorize a religiously affiliated employer to obtain an employee's protected health information or to violate the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (P.L. 104-191; 110 Stat. 1936) or any federal regulations adopted pursuant to that act.

E. Subsections B and C of this section shall not be construed to restrict or limit any protections against employment discrimination that are prescribed in federal or state law.

F. For the purposes of this section, "religiously affiliated employer" means either:

1. An entity for which all of the following apply:

(a) The entity primarily employs persons who share the religious tenets of the entity.

(b) The entity serves primarily persons who share the religious tenets of the entity.

(c) The entity is a nonprofit organization as described in section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.

2. An entity whose articles of incorporation clearly state that it is a religiously motivated organization and whose religious beliefs are central to the organization's operating principles.