Women's Speak Out For Action On Health Care Reform

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 28 Mar 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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While lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and state capitals debate the merits and costs of health reform, women around the nation are struggling to get affordable health care for our families. For many women and our families, health reform cannot come too soon.

On April 1, women from across New York City will speak out publicly about the problems they and their families are experiencing with the current health system, such as:

-- Insurance premiums that are unaffordable;

-- Co-pays and deductibles that are so costly women can't afford to use insurance, if they have it;

-- Limits on coverage for pre-existing medical conditions;

-- Plans that don't cover maternity and other reproductive health services;

-- Inability of small business owners to offer employee health coverage;

-- Confusing rules and confounding billing systems;

-- Lack of translators for families who do not speak English

Emcee will be Byllye Avery, founder of the Black Women's Health Imperative. Moderator will be Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Chief Medical Editor of NBC News.

Health policy experts who will be on hand to link women's personal stories to needed reforms in the health system will include: Wendy Chavkin, M.D., Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Susan Wood, Ph.D., Director of the Jacobs Institute for Women's Health at George Washington University (and former Director of Women's Health for the FDA); Deborah Reid, J.D., attorney with the National Health Law Program in Washington, D.C.; and Lynn Paltrow, J.D., Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. Representatives of city council, state legislative and Congressional offices have been invited.

DATE OF EVENT: Wednesday, April 1, 2009

TIME: 7:30-9:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.)

WHERE: InterChurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive at 119th Street, Manhattan (enter through Claremont Avenue side of building)

Raising Women's Voices
http://www.raisingwomensvoices.net