Oral

This session addresses current initiatives to promote universal health care and the challenges of making sure that women’s reproductive health services are included, and that access is in fact “universal” for all women. Panelists discuss the range of proposals for universal health care, including at the state level. The session addresses the influence of conservative religious organizations and allied health systems on health care reform efforts at the state and national level. The session concludes with recommendations to women’s health organizations about advocacy messages and strategies that can be adopted. The panelists introduce and discuss the use of the reproductive justice model for framing the need for reproductive health to be part of universal health care and that access should be accorded to all women. The session also explores the issues that keep communities from uniting and working together for health care and includes strategies needed to build a movement for an American health care system that puts people at the center and respects everyone’s health care needs.

Session Objectives: • Discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise from the growing number of universal health care initiatives in the U.S. • Identify women’s health and reproductive health services that should be included in proposals for universal health care • Recognize potential threats to inclusion of these services, depending on coalitions developed • Employ proven strategies and messages to successfully advocate for universal health coverage that includes women’s health • Use the reproductive justice framework to ensure that universal health care is truly “universal” for all women

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing