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A U.S. appeals court panel has ruled that certain provisions in the Affordable Care Act dealing with birth control don't violate the religious rights of faith-based groups under federal law. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans delivered its ruling Monday in the consolidation of several cases brought by Texas-based religious institutions, including universities and charities. (6/24)

The Affordable Care Act’s rules on contraceptive coverage do not violate the religious freedom of church-based organizations in Texas, a federal appeals court has ruled. The law, commonly known as Obamacare, requires employers with at least 50 workers to provide health insurance that covers contraceptives unless a written form is submitted that declares their religious opposition to the coverage. (Lindell, 6/23)

Abortion providers asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to stop strict measures in Texas’ anti-abortion law from going into effect in July because they are appealing the law. The application for a stay follows a June 9 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans that upheld controversial parts of the 2013 law. The providers say they plan to ask the Supreme Court to review that appeals court’s decision allowing the Republican-backed provisions to take effect in Texas. (Ruger, 6/23)