Biden administration withdraws birth control rules

The Biden administration has withdrawn proposed birth control rules intended to expand access to contraceptive care. This decision represents a significant shift in federal contraceptive policy.
The administration cited concerns raised during the public comment period for its withdrawal. Critics argued that the proposed rules could have led to increased costs for many patients. The regulations stemmed from an Affordable Care Act mandate that barred employers from exempting themselves from providing contraception on “non-religious moral objections,” according to Politico. Last year, the administration said the regulation would have helped an estimated 130,000 more people gain contraceptive coverage, Politico reports.