Reproductive Rights and the Affordable Care Act

America is on the verge of  great change with the passing of the Affordable Care Act . Every American is expected to have access to reasonably priced healthcare coverage. However, more and more issues have come to the surface regarding potential negative consequences of the Affordable Care Act. High deductibles, previous prescription medications not being covered, higher premiums for young healthy middle class individuals, employers no longer covering dependents...These are just a few of the issues that I have heard from those around me in the healthcare field or I have experienced personally. 

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the spotlight is once again on sensitive topics such as reproductive health. The U.S. Supreme Court reviewed two large cases last week regarding reproductive health and is expected to release their ruling in June. If you are not familiar with Hobby Lobby and their recent attention in the news, take a look at the article below. What do you think? 

"On Tuesday, March 25, the U.S. Supreme Court  reviewed two cases on coverage of reproductive health care services under the Affordable Care Act. The plaintiffs in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, seek to deny its employees contraceptive health coverage otherwise entitled by federal law, based on religious beliefs.

Both sides have explained their positions publicly:

• According to Hobby Lobby online, “While the [Hobby Lobby founder David] Green family has no moral objection to providing 16 of the 20 [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]-approved drugs and devices that are part of the federal mandate, providing drugs or devices that have the potential to terminate a life conflicts with their faith”; and
• The White House administration has stated that “As a general matter, our policy is designed to ensure that health care decisions are made between a woman and her doctor. The president believes that no one, including the government or for-profit corporations, should be able to dictate those decisions to women.”

On Jan. 28 the National Health Law Program, or NHeLP, which works to protect the health rights of low-income and underserved communities, along with APHA and other groups sent a brief to the Supreme Court urging its upholding of the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive health requirements.

“All women are entitled to make health decisions that are best for them and their families, without the interference of their employers, but the corporations in Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood seek to undermine that right,” said Dipti Singh, staff attorney at NHeLP. “Contraception is important not only because planning and spacing pregnancies leads to better maternal and child health outcomes, but because contraception is a crucial part of managing several chronic diseases.”

According to NHeLP a ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga could impact all health care services, not just reproductive rights. NHeLP Director of Reproductive Health Susan Berke Fogel called this “a very concerning proposition for the nation’s public health.”

“In short an employer would be able to determine the types of health care an employee has access to, without regard for that employee’s wants or needs,” Berke Fogel said."

To continue reading this article visit http://www.publichealthnewswire.org/?p=9730