The Brewster Report

Health Care Reform victory comes with a Tragic Setback for Women's Rights

I find it difficult to celebrate President Obama's health care victory! 

 

First, the bill passed last night is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and NOT A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM.  In other words, there are a few changes in the nations' approach to health care; however this is not a real NATIONAL health care program that would cover the millions of people that are unemployed and can't afford to pay, but not poor enough for assistance.  The plan will cover Viagra, but not a woman's Pro-Choice rights. 

 

The National Organization of Women (NOW), Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America have criticized President Obama's decision to sell out women's Pro-Choice rights for a vote.  Obama's decision to issue an executive order to reassure pro-life Democrats that there would be no federal funding for abortion was the wrong move. The executive order was published by the White House minutes before Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) announced that he and his bloc of pro-life Democrats would be providing the missing votes.

 

Pro-Choice New York [http://www.prochoiceny.org/news/press/201003211.shtml

 

March 21, 2010

Tonight Congress passed an historic health care reform bill. Unfortunately, this bill -- with its onerous restrictions on access to abortion care and the accompanying executive order enshrining the Hyde Amendment -- is far from an unadulterated victory. Pro-choice men and women will not soon forget today's disappointing outcome.

NARAL Pro-Choice New York is equally upset with President Obama's executive order, which enshrines the Hyde Amendment and reaffirms that women who receive their healthcare through a federal program (like Medicaid) or who serve their country in federal jobs or military service do not have the same rights as other American women.

This battle, which has been a painful reminder that we cannot ever take our reproductive rights for granted, has also served to reinvigorate the pro-choice movement. While we would have preferred that our renewed energy come on the heels of an unadulterated victory, rest assured that our nation's pro-choice men and women will not soon forget today's disappointing outcome.

 

From NOW http://www.now.org/

 

Health Care Reform Victory Comes with Tragic Setback for Women's Rights
NOW President Terry O'Neill said in a statement, "As a longtime proponent of health care reform, I truly wish that the National Organization for Women could join in celebrating the historic passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It pains me to have to stand against what many see as a major achievement. But feminist, progressive principles are in direct conflict with many of the compromises built into and tacked onto this legislation."

President Obama Breaks Faith with Women
NOW is incensed that President Barack Obama agreed today to issue an executive order designed to appease a handful of anti-choice Democrats who have held up health care reform in an effort to restrict women's access to abortion. Through this order, the president has announced he will lend the weight of his office and the entire executive branch to the anti-abortion measures included in the Senate bill, which the House is now prepared to pass.

NOW/PAC Endorses Connie Saltonstall for Stupak Seat
Saltonstall is running for Congress from Michigan's 1st District, taking on reproductive rights foe and health care reform obstructer Bart Stupak in the state's Democratic primary this August.

White House Health Care Reform Bill Denies Women's Basic Rights
NOW President Terry O'Neill stated, "We will not accept a health care bill that trades off the rights and needs of some women for the benefit of others. And we will never stop fighting for the right of every woman to have equal access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion."

 

HHS: Charges Against 53 Doctors, Health Care Executives & Beneficiaries for More Than $50 Million in Alleged False Billing

 Fifty-three people have been indicted for schemes to submit more than $50 million in false Medicare claims in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Detroit, Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and FBI Director Robert Mueller announced today.  The Strike Force in Detroit is the third phase of a targeted criminal, civil and administrative effort against individuals and health care companies that fraudulently bill the Medicare program.

While the indictments were returned by a grand jury in Detroit, individuals were arrested today in Detroit, Miami and Denver as a result of phase three operations of the Strike Force.  The joint DOJ-HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force is a multi-agency team of federal, state and local investigators designed to combat Medicare fraud through the use of Medicare data analysis techniques and an increased focus on community policing. 

“As demonstrated by today’s charges and arrests, we will strike back against those whose fraudulent schemes not only undermine a program upon which 45 million aged and disabled Americans depend, but which also contribute directly to rising health care costs that all Americans must bear,” said Attorney General Holder.  “The vast majority of doctors, patients, and medical companies do the right thing and work with the Medicare program to provide access to medical services.  To those who work diligently and ethically to provide medical care through the Medicare program, we will work with you to root out the few who corrupt the system and taint the good reputations of health professionals everywhere.”

 “The Obama Administration is committed to turning up the heat on Medicare fraud and employing all the weapons in the federal government’s arsenal to target those who are defrauding the American taxpayer,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  “Thanks to cooperation from across the government and some of the best law enforcement professionals in the country, today we were able to save millions of dollars from being lost to criminals and send a powerful message to those who seek to defraud the system, that we are coming after them.  But our joint efforts on HEAT don’t just stop at the jailhouse door.  Our Medicare program is working closely in partnership with our own and other law enforcement operations to prevent fraud from happening in the first place.  Every dollar we can save by stopping fraud can be used to strengthen the long-term fiscal health of Medicare, bring down costs and deliver better service to Medicare beneficiaries.”  

The Strike Force operations in Detroit are part of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), a renewed effort announced in May 2009 between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their joint efforts to prevent fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  The HEAT taskforce, co-chaired by Deputy Attorney General David Ogden and Deputy Secretary Bill Corr, is made up of top-level law enforcement agents, prosecutors and staff from both Departments and their operating divisions.  In the May 2009 announcement, Attorney General Holder and Secretary Sebelius announced the expansion of the Strike Force into Detroit and Houston to build upon existing partnerships between the agencies in a heightened effort to reduce fraud and recover taxpayer dollars.  FULL PRESS RELEASE

HHS: White House & the Ad Council to Launch New Fatherhood Public Service Campaign

Just in time for Father’s Day weekend, the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced a new public service campaign today promoting fatherhood that features a PSA by President Obama.  The campaign, sponsored by the department’s Administration for Children and Families and the Advertising Council, can be found at www.fatherhood.gov. The public service announcements and supporting campaign materials highlight the critical role fathers play in their children’s lives.  

In the opening PSA of the campaign, President Obama calls fatherhood “the most important job in a man’s life.”  “Things can get busy, and sometimes we all fall short,” he says, “but even the smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child’s life.  Take time to be a dad today.”

“Dads and father figures can make such a difference in kids’ lives and the choices that they make,” said Secretary Sebelius. “As the country gets ready to celebrate Father’s Day, the President and the Administration are committed to encouraging and supporting efforts by parents and mentors to reach out and connect with kids. The department has a multitude of resources available at fatherhood.gov and we will be working closely with the White House to support their Fatherhood events and outreach in the coming days and weeks.”

The announcements, scheduled to begin airing across the country on Father’s Day weekend, are part of a media campaign, supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, to promote and encourage responsible fatherhood. 

They are the work of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), the Ad Council and the Campbell-Ewald agency of Detroit.  To date, three television and six radio PSAs have been produced, in addition to multiple print, web and viral ads. 

The PSAs encourage fathers to visit www.fatherhood.govor call 1-877-4DAD411 for parenting tips and additional resources for fathers.  To view the ads, visit www.fatherhood.govor www.adcouncil.org.

”President Obama’s involvement in the campaign is a continuation of the commitment he has shown to strengthening fatherhood. As our nation’s ‘First Dad,’ President Obama’s words are sure to be an inspiration this Father’s Day and beyond,” said Roland C. Warren, Media Campaign Director for the NRFC.

 “We are delighted to join President Obama and Secretary Sebelius for this poignant campaign as we recognize all fathers nationwide this Sunday,” said Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of the Ad Council. “I believe these PSAs will encourage more fathers this weekend and throughout the year to take an active role in their children’s lives.”

According to NRFC, an estimated 25 million children live without their biological fathers and are on average at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health and emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents. Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior and avoid high-risk behaviors. 

Since its launch in 2008, the NRFC’s Father Involvement campaign has received more than $38 million in donated media across television, radio, out-of-home, Internet and print. 

HHS

Through HHS, the federal government supports responsible fatherhood in diverse ways.  Because engaged fathers strengthen families and contribute to healthy outcomes for children, many HHS programs integrate support for fathers. These include Head Start, child support programs, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.  HHS also supports programs that focus on responsible fatherhood, such as the Promoting Responsible Fatherhood grant program administered by the Office of Family Assistance.

NRFC

NRFC is funded by HHS’ Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance’s (OFA) efforts to assist states and communities to promote and support responsible fatherhood. Primarily a tool for professionals operating responsible fatherhood programs, the NRFC provides access to print and electronic publications, timely information on fatherhood issues, and targeted resources that support OFA-funded responsible fatherhood grantees. The NRFC Web site also provides essential information for other audiences interested in fatherhood issues. www.fatherhood.gov

Campbell-Ewald

Campbell-Ewald is the nation’s eighth largest advertising and digital communications agency, with more than 1,300 employees and offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York and Washington, D.C. A part of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), Campbell-Ewald partners with a score of national brands, including Alltel Wireless, Carhartt, Chevrolet, Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Olympic Paints and Stains, OnStar, the United States Navy and the United States Postal Service. For more information on Campbell-Ewald, visit www.campbell-ewald.com.

The Advertising Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has effected, and continues to effect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action, and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org.