Health care for all, health care for women: A review of state health care reform initiatives

National efforts to establish universal access to health care are still not moving forward, despite increased national public attention to the gaps and problems caused by the current patchwork system in the United States. A few states, however, have enacted universal health care initiatives, and several more are considering proposals this year. This presentation will review state-based initiatives to establish universal access to health care and discuss how diverse women's health care needs are, and are not, being met in those efforts. Women have unique problems and concerns in health care with respect to both access and services. State health care reform initiatives and proposals will be evaluated based on their ability to address the barriers that women face to obtaining insurance, accessing needed care, and maintaining and achieving health. Since the inclusion of comprehensive reproductive health services has historically been controversial in public health services, the presentation will specifically examine whether state reforms treat reproductive health services differently in any way and how that treatment is affecting women's health status in the state. Parity for mental health coverage is also a major concern for women and a likely source of controversy as states institute reforms. Finally, the presentation will include an assessment of the reforms' responsiveness to the needs of women who have historically faced the greatest barriers to health care, including immigrant women, women with disabilities and LBTQ women.