Spotlight on....

June 25, 2009

Today, activists are in Washington demanding that health care reform include a public plan. Add your voice. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your senators. Or call them directly (find their numbers here).

Ask: When you reach the office of your senator, say something like the following: "As a [physician or future physician], I support the choice of a public health insurance plan as part of comprehensive health care reform. Please support the public option and guarantee that all public and private health care insurers cover the full range of evidence-based reproductive health prevention, treatment, care, drugs, and devices."

June 22, 2009
The Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health Leadership Training Academy is accepting applications for the Class of 2010. Practicing physicians who want to become powerful, effective advocates for sexual and reproductive health care are encouraged to apply. The application deadline has been changed to July 13, 2009. Learn more about the Academy and the application process here.

June 22, 2009
PRCH Board member Daniella Diaz, PRCH member John Santelli, MD, MPH, and two others published a report showing a decline in contraceptive use among U.S. teens. The New York Times dedicated an editorial to their work.

June 18, 2009
Thanks in part to PRCH members and supporters, the House of Representatives recently passed a resolution condemning the murder of Dr. George Tiller. But the Senate is stalling. The resolution, authored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, declares that “acts of violence should never be used to prevent women from receiving reproductive health care.” Some senators have complained that such language is offensive and have blocked the resolution.

Tell your senators that Dr. Tiller deserves the resolution, as written. Violence against physicians and their patients is unacceptable.

June 17, 2009
When Senator John Kerry wanted to make women’s health part of the health care reform debate, he turned to PRCH. His bill, the Women’s Health Insurance Fairness Act, would prohibit health insurers from charging women more for individual policies than men, a practice called gender rating. PRCH is working to end gender rating in California, and we’re pleased to join Sen. Kerry’s fight against the practice nationwide. Read PRCH's letter of support.

June 15, 2009

PRCH physicians and medical students spent June 12 in Washington, DC, lobbying members of Congress for the inclusion of reproductive health in any plan for health care reform. Doctors and medical students from the American Medical Women’s Association joined us.