On Feb 10, 3:42 pm, Tommy News <tommysn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Obama's Savvy Plan to Circumvent Religious Groups' Freak Out Over Contraception
> Today, the White House did the right thing for women, public health
> and human rights. Despite deep concerns, including my own, based on
> what transpired in the past under health reform, the White House has
> decided on a plan to address the birth control mandate that will
> enable women to get contraceptive coverage directly through their
> insurance plans without having to buy a rider or a second plan, and
> without having to negotiate with or through religious entities or
> administrations that are hostile to primary reproductive health care,
> including but not limited to contraception.
>
> Under this plan, every insurance company will be obligated to provide
> contraceptive coverage. Administration officials stated that a woman's
> insurance company "will be required to reach out directly and offer
> her contraceptive care free of charge. The religious institutions
> will not have to pay for it."
>
> Moreover, women will not have to opt in or out; contraceptive care
> will be part of the basic package of benefits offered to everyone.
> Contraceptive care will simply be "part of the bundle of services that
> all insurance companies are required to offer," said a White House
> official.
>
> "We are actually more comfortable having the insurance industry offer
> and market this to women than religious institutions," said the White
> House official because they "understand how contraception works" to
> prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce health care costs. "This makes
> sense financially."
>
> The way it works is this: Insurers will create policy not including
> contraceptive coverage in the contract for religious organizations
> that object. Second, the same insurance company must simultaneously
> offer contraceptive coverage to all employees, and can not charge an
> additional premium. This provides free contraceptive coverage to
> women. The reason this works for insurance companies is because
> offering contraception is cost-neutral and cost-effective; companies
> realize the tremendous cost benefits of spacing pregnancies, and
> limiting unintended pregnancies, planned pregnancies and health
> benefits of contraception.
>
> White House officials, speaking on background, said that the
> accommodation--which they stress is not a compromise--fulfills two
> principals. One is that all women will have access to the health care
> they need no matter where they work; their access to contraceptive
> services is guaranteed. "No longer will they have to struggle to pay
> for it," said the White House official. At the same time, "we are
> able to respect the beliefs of religious institutions." These are two
> principals, the official said, "that the White House holds dear."
>
> The rule will be applied to all but the original institutions that
> were exempted—those for which religious inculcation is their primary
> purpose—and will not be expanded to include other entities such as
> hospitals, clinics, or social service organizations.
>
> It most certainly will not, according to White House officials, exempt
> private employers. The Bishops had made clear earlier this week that
> their ultimate goal was to get rid of contraceptive coverage in health
> reform entirely.
>
> The White House said that they plan to publish the final rule as soon
> as possible, and that it would go into effect on August 1, 2012, the
> original date, removing the one-year grace period from the original
> plan.
>
> A White House official described the plan as providing "seamless
> coverage" to women for contraceptive care and crafted to allay
> concerns about privacy and confidentiality in accessing such coverage.
>
> White House spokespeople pointed to support from two sides of the debate.
>
> On one hand, Sister Carol Keehan of the Catholic Health Association
> applauded the policy, although I could not find her statement at this
> time.
>
> And in a statement, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood
> Federation of America said:
>
> "We believe the compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman's
> ability to access these critical birth control benefits.
>
> "However we will be vigilant in holding the administration and the
> institutions accountable for a rigorous, fair and consistent
> implementation of the policy, which does not compromise the essential
> principles of access to care.
>
> "The individual rights and liberties of all women and all employees in
> accessing basic preventive health care is our fundamental concern.
>
> "Planned Parenthood continues to believe that those institutions who
> serve the broad public, employ the broad public, and receive taxpayer
> dollars, should be required to follow the same rules as everyone else,
> including providing birth control coverage and information.
>
> "As a trusted health care provider to one in five women, Planned
> Parenthood's priority is increasing access to preventive health care.
> This birth control coverage benefit does just that.
>
> "The birth control benefit underscores the fact that birth control is
> basic health care, and is fundamental to improving women's health and
> the health of their families.
>
> More:http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/782375/obama%27s_savvy_p...
>
> --
> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
> Have a great day,
> Tommy
>
> --
> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
> Have a great day,
> Tommy
--
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