Denver-based Little Sisters of the Poor have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after losing their lawsuit to avoid compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate, attorneys said Thursday.

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 14 that a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requirement that the sisters, who run about 30 nursing homes around the country, must file for an exemption from providing their employees contraception coverage or pay a penalty.

The federal government permits an exemption for religious employers, such as churches, hospitals and universities, but they must file for it. Then a third party steps in to provide coverage to their employees.

The Little Sisters had argued in December that having to file for the exemption burdened the free exercise of their religion and made them complicit in “the scheme” to provide the coverage.

The three-judge panel ruled it does not. The Becket Fund represents the Little Sisters in the case.

Electa Draper: 303-954-1276, edraper@denverpost.com or twitter.com/electadraper