Newsletter of the WIN Womens Health Policy Network

January 2013 Were on Facebook!

WEALTH
The Legacy of Roe vs. Wade
This January marks the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion for women in the United States. While subsequent legal decisions like Planned Parenthood v. Casey have shifted the framework of the original Roe decision, from a legal standpoint, abortion remains legal. However, anti-abortion activists have worked to inhibit womens access to abortion, by targeting legislation against abortion providers, unfairly restricting abortion access in public health insurance plans, and increasing the hurdles that women must go through in order to access the care they need. 2011 and 2012 marked the two highest years of abortion restrictions in state legislations, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Over 135 provisions aimed at restricting reproductive choice were enacted over the last two years. These restrictions ranged from mandating nonmedically necessary procedures like trans-vaginal ultrasounds for women seeking abortions, to targeted regulation

of abortion provider (TRAP) laws aimed at creating stringent regulations that only abortion providers are required to follow, in the hopes that the restrictions will force the providers to either stop providing abortion services or close their clinics altogether. Additionally, states have limited abortion coverage in proposed insurance exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act, restricting womens access to abortion care under private insurance plans. These regulations come while women with public health coverage, including Medicaid, are already unfairly restricted in their health care coverage because of the Hyde Amendment. The legislative restrictions attack other reproductive health choices, including access to contraception and emergency contraception, maternity care coverage by insurance providers, and funding restrictions for family planning providers. Even though the Supreme Court determined that women have a right to privacy when it comes to reproductive health decisions 40 years ago, women are still fighting to protect their reproductive autonomy.

Upcoming Health Policy Events

Did You Know? January is:

human papillomavirus. Cervical Some medical experts beHealth Awarelieve that through successness Month: ful education, screening According to and vaccination, we have the National the potential to nearly Cervical Cancer Coalition eliminate cervical cancer in (NCCC), every year 11,000 the U.S. women will be diagnosed Thyroid with cervical cancer and Awareness more than 4,000 will die due to advanced forms of Month: The the disease. Routine pap thyroid is smears are the best way to responsible ensure early detection of for metabolism regulation. the cancer: however, cerviIt is estimated that milcal caner is preventable. lions of people, mostly Regular Pap tests, supwomen, have thyroid displemented by appropriate orders but have not reHPV testing, will detect ceived a diagnosis. Favirtually all pre-cancerous tigue, weight gain, sensichanges and cervical cantivity to hot or cold temcers. Additionally, the peratures, rapid heart rate NCCC recommends the are all symptoms of an HPV vaccines which target over or under-active thycancer-causing types of the roid.

January 31, 11:30 am: Black Womens

Health Imperative Discussion. Black Women and Roe: A Conversation Across the Generations. Washington, DC. Learn more. January 31, 3:305 pm: Legal Momentum Webinar. Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse: The Hidden Dimension of Domestic Violence. Learn more. February 4-7: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America 23rd National Leadership Forum. Coalitions: Science, Strategies and Solutions. National Harbor, MD. Learn more. February 6, 8 am2:30 pm: Health Affairs Briefing. New Era Of Patient Engagement. Washington, DC. Learn more. February 9-12: Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs 2013 Annual Conference. Leadership, Quality & Action: Advancing the Maternal Child Health Vision. Washington, DC. Learn more. February 12 & February 19, 11 am12 pm: Drug Free Action Alliance Webinar Series. Bridging the GAP. Learn more. February 21, 12 -1:30 pm: Center for Studying Disability Policy & Mathematica Webinar. Growing Pains: How Disability, Risky Behaviors, and Expectations During Youth Influence Early Adult Outcomes. Learn more.
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Meet a WINner in Womens Health!

Elizabeth Dawes Gay Senior Associate, Programs and Policy Reproductive Health Technologies Project

What led you to do reproductive justice work?

In undergrad I discovered the concept of social determinants of health. I was really interested in how environment, communities, and social and economic circumstances impacts our health in so many ways. I didnt realize until later that reproductive justice was a really good fit for how I think about health.

I manage our Contraceptive Technologies program area. Some of my work involves organizing events to work through an emerging issue; writing press releases, blogs, and other external communication; participating in various coalitions; tracking policy developments and news; and providing strategic direction for the program area.

you wish youd had?

Writing! And I mean all kinds of writing. Knowing how to express yourself or explain an idea in a way that will make sense to the reader is a form of art. I have to know when different styles of writing are required and be flexible enough to put it into practice.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Most rewarding aspect?

What are your long-term professional interests?

Im not ashamed to say that I dont have that completely figured out yet. Right now Im comfortable not being completely certain, but I know that whatever I do will work to help people live happy, healthy, and well lives.

The most rewarding aspect is seeing something I spent a lot of time on come to life. I spent months planning How did you come to join RHTP? a meetingto see those invited to the meeting gathered in the room having I was actually looking for reproductive a dialogue, sharing, and learning was health jobs on Idealist and they had one really great. The most challenging position posted that I wasnt qualified for, but after learning more about the work that aspect is that there are so many things in reproductive health that need to be RHTP does I knew I had to give it a shot anyway. I didnt get chosen for that position addressed. but when they had another opening they What skills/training do you think invited me back. have been most useful in your advo-

What advice would you give to young women just starting out in your field?
When you love what you do, its easier to bounce back from those really hard days because you have a sense of purpose and can run on passion when youre exhausted. It might take some time to hone in on what will keep you going, but that time will be well worth it once you get there.

What does your job entail?

cacy work? What skills/training do

New Health Policy Resources

HHS: New proposed rule issued promoting consistent policies and processes for eligibility

notices and appeals for strengthening Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and the new Health Insurance Marketplace: Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Programs, and Exchanges: New data assessment report released: An Inventory of HIV Prevention Programs Serving African Americans funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Newly updated Office of Adolescent Health website includes fact sheets detailing reproductive health of adolescents across 50 states and Washington, DC and an interactive map to compare teen to national rates for teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS education, and more. Kaiser Family Foundation: New brief examines proposed regulations for private health plans to address four ACA provision areas. Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform: New issue brief - Health Equity: The Promise of Health Care Reform. National Association of County and City Health Officials: New online tool available Resource Center for Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans. Policy Link: New data report released - Why Place & Race Matter. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: New data report released - Addressing Substance Use in Tribal Communities. Women's Policy, Inc.: New summary of legislative action affecting women and their families during the 112th Congress - 112th Congress At-A-Glance.
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