The Supreme Court declined to rule on a major challenge to Obamacare’s birth control mandate Monday, instead punting a series of challenges from nonprofits such as the charity Little Sisters of the Poor back to the lower courts.
The Zubik v. Burwell decision comes as the court remains short-handed after the February death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.
The case leaves unresolved a major challenge from religious nonprofits that say Obamacare’s mandate to provide birth control to all employees is a violation of their religious beliefs. The administration counters that a compromise in which insurers cover the cost of birth control should satisfy any religious objections.
The groups said the compromise doesn’t go far enough and argued that no birth control coverage should be given to their employees.
After oral arguments this year, the court requested more information from the Obama administration on the birth control mandate.
