“Faith-based” health care reform and the threat to women's reproductive health services: Strategies for countering religious ultraconservatives

In their efforts to build broad-based partnerships for health care reform, major consumer health organizations have taken pains to include religious groups and religiously-sponsored health systems. But when such groups are at the table, women's reproductive health services are often eliminated. For example, a spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told the Families USA 2006 conference that the bishops would insist that universal health coverage not include abortion services. Moreover, a national alliance of 60 health organizations, including the Catholic Health Care West hospital chain, agreed to exclude reproductive health services from the alliance's public opinion research and strategic planning about how to win public support for universal health coverage.

With advocacy for universal health coverage increasing in states and at the national level, women's health organizations must move quickly and effectively to insist that reproductive services be included. This paper will examine the influence to date of conservative religious organizations and allied health systems on health care reform efforts at the state and national level. It will present examples of strategies that can be used to counter this influence, drawn from experiences in Massachusetts and other states that have considered health reform plans. The paper will examine the positive role that progressive religious organizations can play in advocating for health coverage that is truly universal, and includes women's health services. It will conclude with recommendations to women's health organizations about advocacy messages and strategies that can be adopted.