Heart Health Not Mentioned in health care reform bill

Ladies,

Check out this exerpt from September Heart to Heart newsletter. WH representatives have persisted in meeting with Congressional staff because they found NO WOMEN'S CARDIAC issues included in the upcoming health care reform bill!

"...Although the bill is dedicated to providing services to women, heart health is not mentioned. In the bill, the definition of a Principal Women’s Health Provider excludes cardiologists..."

"WomenHeart representatives continue to meet with Congressional staff and our Washington advocacy colleagues to ensure that our "Principles for Health Care Reform" are included in health care reform legislation. We have been an active participant in the Women’s Health Care Coalition and are working with the National Women’s Law Center (see "Why Women Need Health Care Reform").

WomenHeart recently met with White House staff and representatives of the women’s community to discuss women and health insurance reform. The White House staff presented their key messages on health care reform and expressed the President’s commitment to passing health care reform this year. WomenHeart is in contact with Kavita Patel, M.D., White House Office of Public Engagement, who expressed great interest in WomenHeart initiatives, as well as in the feedback we have received from a Team Inspire posting on health care reform, which were forwarded (without attribution) to the Office of Communication. We will stay in touch with Dr. Patel and other White House staff as health care reform moves forward.

WomenHeart met with Senator Menendez’s (D-NJ) staff to discuss S. 1303 - The Women’s Medical Home Demonstration Act. The bill establishes a demonstration project for women receiving services from Medicaid or CHIP. Although the bill is dedicated to providing services to women, heart health is not mentioned. In the bill, the definition of a Principal Women’s Health Provider excludes cardiologists, who do serve as the principal health provider for some of our women. The bill includes language specifying that the medical home must be able to provide one of an array of services, which does not include cardiac services, and requires that the health care delivery system for women provide care with a particular focus on a wide range of services integral to women’s health; cardiac care is not specifically listed. These sections of the bill were discussed to point out the omission of women’s heart health. Senator Menendez’s staff is working to determine if heart health language could be incorporated into the bill.

There was also a brief discussion with Senator Menendez’s staff about S. 324/HR 20, a bill to provide support services to women suffering from post partum depression, to highlight that depression is a risk factor for heart disease and one of the frequent co-morbidities.

Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) has introduced S. 1630 - The Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009. The bill will cap out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs to $200/month for any one medication and a maximum of $500/month per person. For those with chronic conditions such as heart disease who incur high monthly prescription costs, this bill will offer relief and the prospect of increased compliance with their medication regime. WomenHeart and eight other patient groups from Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx) have sent a letter to all Senators urging co-sponsorship. "

Time to fire off a letter and/or email to your congressional members. They use a 'squeaky wheel' sort of meter to judge how much pushback they are getting from the huddled masses on an issue. When it reaches a certain percentile (> 60%?), they may begin to show signs of serious action. Go the the WH home page for easy links to e-letter forms and addresses of your local representatives. Remember, these are the same people who just cut education funding to your child, grandchild's school districts too, so take no prisoners ladies!!