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Reproductive Health Professionals Support Historic Insurance Reform Vote that Brings Health Coverage to Millions of Americans
ARHP leaders applaud passage and call on Congress and the White House to work together to increase access to family planning and abortion services
For Immediate Release
March 22, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC — The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), representing more than 12,000 health care providers, researchers, educators, and advocates in the reproductive health field, applaud the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, passed last night by the U.S. House of Representatives.
"We support the passage of this historic bill because of its positive potential impact on the health of our families, friends, and communities," says Wayne C. Shields, ARHP’s president and CEO. "Unfortunately, anti-choice lawmakers threatened to block this legislation and demanded reassurance that there would continue to be restrictions on access to abortion coverage. We’re pleased about the passage of this bill, but we have our work cut out for us to prevent the Hyde amendment from becoming the irrevocable law of the land and to make family planning services accessible and affordable to all Americans." Positive outcomes from this legislation include eliminating the ability of insurance companies to deny insurance coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, removing gender discrimination in insurance pricing, extending family health insurance coverage to dependent children up to age 26, guaranteeing that maternity care will be covered, and providing for screening and preventive services.
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The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) is the leading
source for trusted medical education and information on reproductive and sexual
health. ARHP educates health care providers, informs consumers, and helps shape
public policy. ARHP is a non-profit membership association composed of highly
qualified and committed experts in reproductive health. ARHP members are health
professionals in clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy and they
include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives,
researchers, educators, pharmacists, and other professionals in reproductive
health. To learn more, visit: http://www.arhp.org.
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