Why should poor women be denied proper coverage for pregnancy-related health issues in a new "universal health plan?" The fact that a health issue unique to women ( pregnancy) is not considered as a sufficient area of medicine to be covered, in its entirety, is absurd. Women suffer from disorders of pregnancy, miscarriage, missed abortion, complications of fertility treatments, etc. This ties the hands of Ob/Gyn specialists ....
Why should poor women suffer because of the Stupak-Pitts amendment?
The Stupak-Pitts amendment to the House of Representatives' health reform plan demonstrates once again that women's health issues are viewed as political rather than medical.
Why should poor women be denied proper coverage for pregnancy-related health issues in a new "universal health plan?" The fact that a health issue unique to women ( pregnancy) is not considered as a sufficient area of medicine to be covered, in its entirety, is absurd. Women suffer from disorders of pregnancy, miscarriage, missed abortion, complications of fertility treatments, etc. This ties the hands of Ob/Gyn specialists and places women in danger.
Supporters of the amendment claim that only poor women are impacted. There are nearly 20 million women living in poverty in the United States. Teenage pregnancy is on the rise, and women are seeking care later in the course of disease due to economic reasons, exposing them to greater complications of gynecologic diseases. This group is at the highest risk for diseases that impact pregnancy.
Congress needs to get this right. The Senate needs to correct this "miscarriage" of justice. If a health plan passes that continues to treat women as an afterthought or a negotiating tool, then we have accomplished little for future generations.
Ben Graber is a former Broward County Commissioner who lives in Coral Springs. He is a candidate for Florida's 19th congressional district.
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