@ Natl Family Planning & Repro Health Assoc Conference

I’m at the Natl Family Planning & Repro Health Association National Conference today in Bethesda, MD. Thanks to the staff of NFPRHA (what an acronym!) for inviting me and a few other bloggers to come today and blog. Their conference theme this year is Empowering the Majoirty: Expanding Access to Family Planning.
You can also follow the conference on Twitter under the hashtag #nfprhacon
If you want to learn more about NFPRHA, check out their website.

The National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA) is a vital membership organization representing the nation’s dedicated family planning providers–nurses, nurse practitioners, administrators and other key health care professionals.
For more than 35 years, NFPRHA members have provided comprehensive preventive health care services in thousands of health centers to millions of women and men annually. Everyday our members help people act responsibly, stay healthy and plan for strong families.

The opening panel this morning is:
Building the Foundation: Strategies for Expanding Access

Ron Pollack–Executive Director, Families USA

There is more cooperation now for health care reform than in the past. Key leaders are in support of getting it done. It needs to get passed quickly, while Obama still has a strong mandate. Some of the traditional opponents of health care reform (insurance companies, providers) may actually be in support because expanding access can also expand their possible beneficiaries.
I think under health care reform that Medicaid is going to be significantly expanded. To get close to universal coverage we need to make health care reform more affordable. I think we’re going to see something similar to what Massachusetts has done–subsidies for those buying health care on a sliding scale

Judy Feder–Fellow, Center for American Progress

How is this different than 1993 and 1994 when health care reform was tried?
I believe in a different outcome this time. The speed with which we are moving is a good thing for a positive outcome.
The economy is so bad that it is hard to talk about positive things, but I think the potential for health care reform is one of those things that might come out of this economy. It is widely understood that a strong health care reform and coverage for everyone is part and parcel of strong economic recovery.
If people cannot be secure in their health care coverage they are not secure in their homes, in their ability to move jobs. I think this is underpinning the high level of activity that we are seeing on health care reform.
The insurance companies and pharmaceutical industries are unhappy as well because their business models are also struggling right now. Everyone has a stack in health care reform right now.
Preexisting conditions are a huge issue and addressing this will have to be part of health care reform. Subsidies for not just low-income people but also to coverage everybody below poverty and some above. Then there would be subsidies for moderate income people.

Lianne Cooke, Executive Director, Health Quarters

Gap populations in MA even with universal health care: adolescents and undocumented immigrants.

Because abortion and contraception are so controversial, you’re more likely to get vague language or an avoidance of the issues because of the controversy. Possible problem: Catholic health systems trying to be providers in universal health care. This could be a serious problem for abortion and contraceptive access.