What’s Good about Choice in Iowa?
To
top off Blog for Iowa’s contribution to Blog for Choice day, here is a
round-up of some of the positive choice-related things in Iowa that our
few remaining freedoms still bring us, in alphabetical order.
Cyclones for Choice:
The first and only pro-choice campus organization at Iowa State
University. Cyclones for Choice meet every first and third Sunday
of the month from 8 – 9 pm at the Sloss House Center on campus in
Ames. And they’ve got a terribly crude bang-up slogan to
boot! Too suggestive to print on Blog for Iowa. Click here
to read it!
Emma Goldman Clinic:
This Iowa City clinic promotes participatory health care, informed
decision making, client rights, advocacy for women, and expansion and
support of women's choices. Their website provides pro-choice
resources and options, information on non-surgical abortions, national
reproductive rights organizations, sexual health information resources,
eastern Iowa feminist organizations, national feminist organizations,
feminist magazines and online feminist journals. By far, this is
the most comprehensive resource list I've ever seen.
Insurance Coverage for Contraception:
Iowa law requires health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs
to provide the same coverage for contraception. If a health
insurance plan provides coverage for outpatient prescription drugs or
devices or outpatient services, it must provide coverage for Food and
Drug Administration-approved prescription contraceptive drugs or
devices and outpatient contraceptive services. (Source)
Medical Students for Choice:
This group was formed to ensure that new doctors are fully trained to
meet the reproductive health needs of women. Key issues include
addressing the provider shortage and the lack of training/coverage in
med school curricula. Iowa is included in Region 4 of the
Midwestern states.
NARAL Pro-choice Iowa:
Their mission is to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the
political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal
decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including
preventing unintended pregnancy, choosing legal abortion, and having a
healthy pregnancy. Learn about the issues here or look up
activities/events on their calendar.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa:
The PPGI agency offers a full range of quality reproductive health care
services to residents in 85 Iowa counties and three counties in
Illinois through 16 medical centers and an education and resource
center. You can contact PPGI if you need medical attention
related to reproductive health and contraception.
Pro-Choice Panthers:
This University of Northern Iowa student organization is an abortion
and reproductive rights advocacy organization created to serve the UNI
community. It is affiliated with NARAL Pro-choice America.
Blog For Iowa 
What's good about choice depends on who's giving us choices. Contraception can cost subscribers of individual health insurance plans provided by private insurers money. Should contraceptions be covered without having to pay extra premium dollars? Should the parents be notified if a child request contraceptives from the parents group health insurance plan? These are some of the questions that have arisen from an ethical viewpoint as a broker with Iowa Health Insurance Network. As an army veteran, I value our freedom, but mabye these issues should be discussed. Any other viewpoints or comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Iowa Health Insurance Network
http://www.iowahealthnetwork.com
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What's also good about choice in Iowa is that the Iowa Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is once again active! This interfaith group brings the moral power of religious communitites to ensure reproductive choice; educates the public that abortion can be a moral, ethical and religiously responsible decision, and educates and mobilizes the religious community to create a pro-choice policy climate in our state.
We are planning a number of exciting events in the next several months, so email rcrciowa@yahoo.com for more information, to join us, or to volunteer to serve in many capacities!
Peace,
Rev. Elizabeth Dilley
RCRC Iowa Board President
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