Think the media is portraying the US Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate accurately? Have you heard any coverage of this: the only category of drugs which, under federal mandate, must be provided without co-pay or deductible is contraceptives. Though an insulin-dependent diabetic will perish without insulin or other anti-hyperglycemic therapy, there is no similar mandate to provide it to the patient. Though a patient with severe heart arrhythmia will die without medical therapy, there is no federal mandate to provide it without cost. Life-saving medicines for a cancer patient? No mandate. Think the administration cares as much about an asthmatic having access to an inhalant, without which she may die, or an epilectic having access to anti-seizure medications, as it does about drugs that support sexual freedom? Think again.
Drugs that are required to save lives – without which the patient will certainly die – are not required to be provided to patients without cost. Contraceptives, which are not lifesaving drugs required for survival, uniquely enjoy the mandate to be provided at no cost. The HHS mandate is about ideology, not good medicine!
Have you heard this reported anywhere? Why not?

3/12/2012

Msgr. William J. King