Doctors Gratified by Senate Vote to Guarantee Coverage of Women’s Preventive Care

Mikulski Amendment Ensures Women Can Get Vital Health Care

New York, NY—Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health released the following statement today from board chair-elect Douglas Laube, MD, MEd, in response to the passage of the Mikulski amendment to health care reform:

“Today the Senate took a major step to provide quality health care for all Americans. The Mikulski amendment requires insurers to cover vital women’s health services, including birth control, mammograms, and pelvic exams. After decades of being overcharged and undertreated, women will have the coverage they need to protect their reproductive health.

“As a physician, I know that preventive care saves lives. Too many women die each year from cancers that could have been detected during an annual well-woman exam. Thanks to Senator Barbara Mikulski’s leadership, women will be able to get the screenings and treatment they need to stay healthy.

“While I am thrilled with today’s passage of the Mikulski amendment, the fight over women’s health is far from over. We cannot allow the Senate to put women at risk with a ban on private insurance coverage for abortion.

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health will continue to monitor the debate over health reform and speak out when our patients’ health is threatened.”

The Mikulski Women’s Health Amendment requires health plans to cover—with no or limited cost sharing—women’s preventive care and screenings provided for in guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Covered services would include counseling, testing, and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); screening for cervical, breast, and other gynecological cancers; and contraception and contraceptive counseling.

Physicians are available for comment. Contact Amanda Davis at amanda@prch.org, 646 649-9927.