Statement on Final Push for Health Care Reform

“For the past year, physicians across the country have urged Congress to pass health reform. We know better than anyone the consequences when women cannot get essential reproductive care like birth control, cancer screenings, and abortion. Our doctors spoke out about patients like Sue, a single mother who died from cervical cancer at age 31. Sue had always worked to support herself and her daughter, but she couldn’t afford health insurance and didn’t seek medical care until it was too late to treat her cancer.

“Sue could have been helped by health reform. Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health fought to guarantee funding for preventive care, including screenings and treatment for cervical cancer. President Obama’s proposal for health reform also protects women against gender discrimination by private insurers, ends the practice of dropping coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and significantly increases access to reproductive health care. We are encouraged that health reform could do so much to help women and their families.

“We remain adamant, however, that reform not impose further restrictions on abortion. Too many women already suffer from unjust federal restrictions on their health care. I can’t forget a colleague’s story about Gail, a 22-year-old soldier who was raped while serving in Afghanistan. Because military insurance does not allow abortions, Gail had to wait months before she could return to the United States and end her pregnancy. As currently written, both the House and Senate bills impose similar restrictions on millions more women.

“As board chair of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, I urge Congress to ensure that health reform expands access to needed care for all Americans. We must not punish women by singling out abortion.”

Read more about PRCH’s position on health reform in our online press kit.