Obama administration offers new birth control path for employers with religious objections

The Obama administration is making another effort to address religious objections from some employers to free birth control coverage for their female workers.

The president's health care law requires most employers to cover birth control as preventive care, at no cost to women. While houses of worship are exempt, the requirement has been controversial with religious nonprofits and private businesses whose owners have deeply held beliefs.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that some private companies can avoid the requirement on religious grounds.

The rules issued Friday attempt to provide a template. To qualify, companies cannot be publicly traded on stock markets. Also, more than half the ownership must be in the hands of five or fewer individuals.

It's unclear if this latest accommodation will resolve the long running dispute.