Colo. company gets contraceptives mandate reprieve

A Colorado company that makes heating and air conditioning systems will keep its reprieve from a contraceptive mandate in the health care law because of the owners’ religious views.

Hercules Industries of Denver won the reprieve in an order issued Thursday by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court upheld a lower court’s decision that Hercules shouldn’t have to comply with the mandate while the federal courts resolve conflicting rulings on the question.

Hercules is one of 30 companies nationwide to receive a reprieve on the contraceptives mandate. The companies say the requirement would force them to violate religious beliefs by providing contraceptives such as the Plan B pill for their employees.

The Obama administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the question.