Running Head: WOMENS HEALTH

WOMENS HEALTH: How policy measures can address health care disparities Trident University International Kevin S. Varner Topics in Health Care Policy BHM 415 Session Long Project Module Number 2 Coordinator Professor: Dr. Mickey Shachar Core Faculty: Dr. Brad Collins August 8, 2011

WOMENS HEALTH: How policy measures can address health care disparities

One of the most commonly overlooked ways to decrease health costs and improve patient outcomes is to focus on preventative medicine. Prevent severe sickness before it can begin and you eliminate many high cost medical services. Chronic disease is responsible for 75% of the nations health spending (healthcare.gov 2011) and by expanding our use of preventive services we can eliminate a huge portion of this spending. This is especially true when discussing womens health issues. Women have many unique medical needs when compared to men, and these preventive health services are a fundament requirement if we, as a country, are to maintain a healthy female population. Many disparities exist in health care in regard to women, especially those considered to be low-income. However, recent enactments of provisions in the Affordable Care Act (signed into law March 23, 2010) could all but eliminate this disparity when discussing womens preventive health services. Affordable Care Act In March of 2010 President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Many of the provisions of this new law are designed to take affect slowly over time between the signing date and 2014 (Obama 2011). Of these provisions, there are several that are targeted toward women, such as maternity benefits. However, on July 29th the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) came out with guidelines that allow access to a much expanded list of preventive services under this law (Jarrett 2011). These guidelines include a long list of services women are eligible to receive, without any form of cost-sharing, including; well-women visits, gestational diabetes screening, HPV testing for women over 30, STD counseling, HIV screening, FDA approved contraception methods and counseling, breastfeeding support/supplies/counseling, and domestic violence screening and counseling. All these services will be included in insurance policies beginning on or after August 1, 2012 (HHS 2011). The

WOMENS HEALTH: How policy measures can address health care disparities

stated purpose of these changes in policy is to enhance long-term detection and treatment while reducing long-term health costs (Jarrett 2011). What this means is any woman with health insurance, when their new policy year begins after August of 2012, can get annual HIV screening and STD counseling during their wellwomens exam and will not have to pay a dime. Additionally, so long as the woman does not work for a religious organization considered non-profit, she will be eligible for FREE contraception, sterilization procedures, and reproductive education and counseling (Anonymous 2011). All services previously covered only for qualifying women who went through Planned Parenthood or similar low-income targeted organizations. Effectiveness This policy, once fully enacted, could significantly improve womens health in our country, and its affects would begin right away. Such issues as breast cancer survival rates alone would be dramatically increased. One study found that women getting mammograms went up as much as 9% when cost sharing was removed (Sebelius 2011), illustrating how this policy could increase early detection in a large population. Similarly, the provision for domestic violence screening could improve detection and increase effectiveness of intervention. An estimated 25% of women in the U.S. report a history of intimate partner violence during their lifetime (healthcare.gov), which shows how significantly this single provision would impact women nationwide. Will this policy truly have the estimated results? Unfortunately this cannot be determined until it is fully realized. There is active resistance to the entire Affordable Care Act throughout our government, at both State and Federal levels. If some have their way they will completely defund the program making it impossible to guarantee all services and provisions

WOMENS HEALTH: How policy measures can address health care disparities

would be properly enacted or enforced. However, if it holds true to the outline as announced, it will have an unprecedented positive impact on womens health. Conclusion Womens health services have been under attack through various means based on recent political wrangling. This has resulted in a loss of abortion services, defunding of Planned Parenthood (the sole health service to an entire demographic of women), overall decreased service availability, and loss of contraceptive freedom for many. By ensuring this provision of the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, funded, and enforced, America would move quickly toward eliminating a host of health problems which affect every woman, while bridging the health care disparity gap. Every legitimate health care provider and organization has no ethical choice but to endorse this measure and assist in its implementation.

WOMENS HEALTH: How policy measures can address health care disparities

References Anonymous (2011) Womens Preventive Services: Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines. Health Resources and Services Administration. Retrieved from: http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/ Healthcare.gov (2011) Affordable Care Act Rules on Expanding Access to Preventive Services for Women. HealthCare.gov website; August 1, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/womensprevention08012011a.html HHS Press Office (2011) Affordable Care Act Ensures Women Receive Preventive Services at No Additional Cost. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS.gov) August 1, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110801b.html Jarrett, Valerie (2011) The Affordable Care Act Helps Women Stay Healthy. Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, August 01, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/01/affordable-care-act-helps-women-stayhealthy Obama Administration (2011) The Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/healthcare-overview#bridge Sebelius, Kathleen (HHS Secretary) (2011) Prevention at the Heart of Keeping Women Healthy. Office of Secretary of Health and Human Services via, The White House Blog, August 01, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/01/preventionheart-keeping-women-healthy