US District Judge in Pennsylvania, Judge Wendy Beetlestone, blocked plans by US President Donald Trump this week.
He wanted to provide a caveat for businesses or non-profits organisations who didn’t want to give out birth control pills (or similar) for free – a policy that came in under Obama.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) created a mandate that employers provide contraceptive coverage in health insurance with no co-payment.
Trump wanted to introduce exemptions from this on the grounds of moral and religious beliefs and was meant to be introduced on Monday across the country.
The district judge said Obamacare prohibited the creation of these exemptions and argued that about 70,500 women would not have access to free contraception if this exemption was rolled out.
Beetlestone also said that it would lead to increased use of abortion services.
This follows another judge making the same decision on Sunday in 13 states.
The US Department of Justice, which has defended Trump’s rules in court, is expected to appeal her injunction.
“Religious organisations should not be forced to violate their mission and deeply held beliefs,” it said in a statement.
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