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Health Care Reform Update: What Does It Say about Abortion in Health Care Reform Proposals?

by Alta Price, M.D.

Continuing where Dr Dx left off (since the version of the email
she was working off did not mention this topic), let us address the myths about
health care reform and abortion making the rounds. I am going to quote Cecile
Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

 
“…Congress has made progress on health care reform legislation — and when it
comes to the early drafts of the bill, I'm happy to say: so far, so good. All versions of the health care reform bill would
expand coverage, protect women's access to reproductive health care, and allow
women to continue to see the health care providers they know and trust (like
Planned Parenthood). That is the good news. Now for the bad.

Anti-choice groups have geared up for an all-out assault on women's health
care. They're using the reform negotiations to pursue their number one goal:
preventing women from accessing comprehensive reproductive health care, from
birth control to abortion. And I'm sure it's not news to you that they're
willing to use every dishonest attack and dirty trick they can to stand in the
way of women's health.

Here are a few key facts you should know so the next time you're talking with
friends, family, or co-workers about health care reform, you can set the record
straight:

MYTH: Health care reform
would result in the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.

REALITY:
Currently, the majority of plans already cover basic reproductive health care,
including abortion care. In fact, more than 86 percent of employer-based insurance
plans cover abortion care. That's why anti-choice groups are working so hard to
strip reproductive health from health care reform — in order to strip women of
coverage they currently have.

MYTH: Taxpayer money would
be used to pay for abortions in the public plan.

REALITY:
Opponents of reproductive health care are trying to confuse people into
thinking that the public plan is a government-funded health plan like Medicaid
or Medicare — it is not. The public health insurance plan would operate like
any private insurance plan would. It would be funded and paid for by private
individual premiums, in the same way a private insurance plan is. Therefore,
there is no reason to treat any coverage issue, including abortion coverage,
differently in the public health insurance plan than in private plans.

MYTH: Health care reform
will “mandate” abortion coverage.

REALITY: Nothing
in any of the current health care reform bills mandates abortion coverage — or
any other type of health care service. Opponents of women's health and health
care reform are trying to hijack health care reform to push for unprecedented
prohibitions on abortion coverage in the private marketplace.

Women in America have the
most to gain and also the most to lose from health care reform. After all,
women are the largest providers of health care, users of health care, and
purchasers of health care, and women make the majority of the health care
decisions for their families. And if
our opponents have their way, women could be left worse off after health care
reform, by losing access to health care and to their provider of choice.


Health care reform is an important goal — but it can't come at the expense of
women's health. As the leading provider of contraception and other reproductive
health care in America, Planned Parenthood will continue to stand up for the
health of women and their families.


You can do your part to set the record straight on health care reform by
writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, or simply by talking with
friends, family, or co-workers. It's critical that we all set the record
straight and educate others about women's health and community providers like
Planned Parenthood.


Stay tuned for ways you can get involved online and in your local community —
and, once again, thank you for standing with us at this crucial time for
women's health.”

More from the Des Moines Register: Don't let abortion debate derail reform.

Alta
Price is a physician practicing Pathology in Davenport, Iowa. One of
the original Deaniacs, she stays involved with Democracy for America,
Iowa, and the Quad Cities. She advocates for quality, affordable health
care for all, primarily as a volunteer with Progressive Action for the
Common Good (Health Care Reform Issue Forum).  Watch for Dr. Price's Health Care Reform Update every Tuesday here on Blog for Iowa.  E-Mail Alta Price