Christus Medicus Foundation
Conscience Protection for Issuers and Plan Sponsors
Introduction:
Christus Medicus is an American non-profit
organization that states that its mission is to
"Reclaim Christ-centered health care by
reforming corporate and public policy to allow
God's people a 'conscientious choice' in
selecting health insurance."
In 2009 the organization offered the
following amendment to health care reform bills
being considered by the US Congress. The
President and Executive Director of Christus
Medicus explained:
This amendment
would protect our religious liberty and
freedom in health care by ensuring all Americans
equal access to federal and state funding so
that the sponsors of private employer group or
individual health plans and government plans
(i.e. State Children Health Plan [SCHIP],
Medicaid, Medicare, Indian Health Services,
Veterans Health Service, Indian Health
Services), can offer health plans that do not
violate right of conscience.
CONSCIENCE PROTECTION FOR ISSUERS AND PLAN
SPONSORS.
Nothing in this division (or an amendment made by
this division) shall be construed-
(1) to prevent the development and
marketing, or the offering as an
Exchange-participating health benefits plan, of
health insurance coverage which does not cover
procedures or services to which the issuer of the
coverage has an objection of conscience articulated
as a matter of corporate or organizational policy;
or
(2) to require that any
employment-based health benefits plan cover
procedures or services to which the sponsor of the
plan has an objection of conscience articulated as a
matter of corporate or organizational policy.