Health Care

The Department pursues public policy that helps Marylanders – especially those living in or near poverty – access comprehensive health care. The Department also pursues public policy that protects religious freedom with regard to the health care decisions of Catholic patients, Catholic health care professionals, and the Catholic hospitals in Maryland.

Protect the right of conscience by supporting policies that safeguard the right of individuals and institutions to pursue health care in a fashion compatible with their moral and religious convictions.

As part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources' (HHS) efforts to enact the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS announced this summer that it would mandate all private health insurance plans to cover surgical sterilization procedures and birth control, including the IUD, ‘morning-after’ pills and abortion-inducing drugs. It also would require that females of reproductive age be ‘educated and counseled’ on these issues.

What are missing are any real opt-outs for the Catholic Church and other religious institutions to not offer health insurance with these mandates. And what about the individual who does not want to contribute to these procedures?

“Without sufficient legal protection for rights of conscience, such a mandate would force all men, women and children to carry health coverage that violates the deeply-held moral and religious convictions of many,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

• Maryland’s Bishops have written Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging the removal of this provision.
  
• HHS is accepting public comments on its proposed mandate until September 30. Send in your comments now and spread the word.
  
• Read Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement.
  
• Urge members of Congress to sponsor HR 1179, which would ensure that parties participating in the health care system retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions.

This mandate even forces individuals and groups with religious or moral objections to purchase and provide such coverage if they are to receive or provide health coverage at all.

This poses an unprecedented threat to individual and institutional religious freedom.

During the year-long debate last Congress on federal health care reform, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were leaders in advocating for genuine reform that would increase access for all, especially the poor and immigrants, while also respecting the dignity of human life. Learn more about the Church's position on federal health care reform here.

Over the 2010 summer, MCC attended meetings and submitted comments and letters to the Health Care Reform Coordinating Council and state departments to ensure abortion coverage is not added to the insurance program and also on how best to provide coverage for vulnerable populations. Read MCC's public comments and letter to the Council regarding access to insurance coverage.

Maryland Catholic Conference closely monitored Maryland's plan last summer to cover high-risk pools. Following our letter to the Maryland Health Insurance Plan on July 22, 2010, MHIP has responded with the attached letter on July 27 indicating that it will follow the federal provisions.

Also, see the statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources.

Help Marylanders access comprehensive health care by supporting programs and policies that: expand Medicaid eligibility to more low-income Marylanders, help businesses provide health coverage to their employees, and assist individuals in acquiring coverage for themselves and their families.