Reform matters: Making real progress for women and health

Background

Political leaders across the nation have made comprehensive health reform a priority for 2009, marking an unprecedented opportunity to address longstanding gender inequities in the health system and to ensure that women have access to the health care they need.

Objective

To explore proposed/enacted federal health reform legislation from 2009, focusing on its influence on women's access to high-quality health care.

Methods

We present data from ongoing monitoring of federal and state health reform efforts, including detailed analyses of proposed/enacted legislation. We estimate the potential impact of health reforms on women in the target population.

Results

Throughout 2009, Congressional leaders will propose and debate legislation to address various components of the failing health care system. While it is still too early to predict the results of these legislative proposals, we plan to share the latest information from monitoring of Congressional activities and our timely analyses of how legislation will impact access to affordable and high-quality health care for women. Specifically, our analyses will determine whether health reform strategies include policies such as: the establishment of robust insurance market reforms to end unfair industry practices; access to portable and affordable health insurance for individuals, families, and employers; and, a guarantee of comprehensive health benefits.

Discussion

Health reform that protects and advances women's health must address the barriers to affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care that exist in the current system. Discussion will revolve around our up-to-date assessment of whether and how federal health reform legislation from 2009 accomplishes this goal.