Regarding the health care law's birth control mandate, which spurred lawsuits from hundreds of religious non-profits and business owners claiming it infringed upon their religious beliefs, Price, in 2012 told a reporter "this is a trampling on religious freedom and religious liberty in this country."
His 2015 bill would do away with such a mandate, along with all similar religious freedom conflicts: "Prohibits discrimination against any individual or health care entity that does not provide, cover, or pay for abortions, and allows for accommodations of the conscientious objection of a purchaser or health care provider when a procedure is contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of such purchaser or provider."
CNA reached out to Rep. Price's office for further comment, including what he would do about the mandate as HHS Secretary, but did not receive a reply by deadline.
The U.S. Bishops' Conference has spoken out about health care in the past, ultimately disapproving of the 2010 health care law because of concerns that taxpayer dollars would fund abortions in the plans set up under the law.
However, the conference approved of the law's expansion of Medicaid in the states and its goal of affordable health coverage for all.
"For decades, the bishops have consistently insisted that access to decent health care is a basic safeguard of human life and an affirmation of human dignity from conception until natural death," a 2013 statement by the bishops' Office of Domestic Social Development read.
"They have advocated that health care reform legislation should 1) ensure access to quality, affordable, life giving health care for all; 2) retain longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights; and 3) protect the access to health care that immigrants currently have and remove current barriers to access," the statement continued.
In November 2009, the bishops' conference wrote in a letter to the U.S. Senate, "The bishops support the expansion of Medicaid eligibility for people living at 133 percent or lower of the federal poverty level."
Matt Hadro was the political editor at Catholic News Agency through October 2021. He previously worked as CNA senior D.C. correspondent and as a press secretary for U.S. Congressman Chris Smith.