Support the “Prevention First Act”

DATE:  January 22, 2007
TO:  Delegate Agencies, Board of Directors, Advocates and Staff
FROM:  Jody Leibman, Director of Public Policy
RE:   Support the “Prevention First Act”

Happy 34th anniversary, Roe v. Wade!

While there is much to celebrate today and much progress has been made, there is plenty of work ahead of us to ensure continued and increased access to family planning and related health care services.  As the 110th Congress gets to work, we must be vigilant in ensuring that our legislators hear our collective voice.

On the opening day of the 110th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced the “Prevention First Act” (S. 21). 

“Prevention First” seeks to:
increase funding for Title X to $700 million (!),
expand eligibility for family planning services under Medicaid,
require private health plans to cover prescription contraceptives to the same extent they cover other prescription drugs,
provide funding for an emergency contraception (EC) education campaign,
require emergency rooms to provide EC access to victims of sexual assault, and
provide funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs. 

In addition, the bill includes the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, which provides for medically accurate and comprehensive sex education. 

To send a letter to your Representatives urging them to cosponsor and support this important bill, please visit the NFPRHA website at www.nfprha.org. You may also call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your Representative directly.  For further information, contact Jody Leibman, Director of Public Policy, at leibmanj@cfhc.org or (213) 386-5614 ext. 4416.

We need your help to ensure that the Prevention First Act continues to gain momentum!

2007 - 2008 California State Budget Summary

Governor Schwarzenegger released his 07-08 budget earlier today and following are a few highlights in the area of Health and Human Services:

Department of Health Care Services

- Human Papillomavirus Vaccinations (HPV) - the budget includes $11.3 million ($5.6 General Fund) in 2007-08 to provide HPV to approximately 52,000 Medi-Cal-eligible women ages 19-26.

-  Provider Enrollment Automation Project - included in the budget is $0.2 million ($0.1 million in General Fund) to initiate development of a provider enrollment case and document tracking system.  The system hopes to streamline the provider enrollment process, thereby shortening the time it takes to enroll providers in Medi-Cal.

Public and Environmental Health

-  HIV Surveillance - $2.0 million General Fund to provide additional local assistance funding to increase surveillance staff for HIV reporting.  The funding will accelerate the conversion process to names based reporting.

Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board

-  Healthy Families Program - Increased by $32 million General Fund (8.9%) to reflect an increase in caseload.

- Access for Infants and Mothers Program - Increased by $11.2 million (8.8%) to reflect an increase in caseload.

The larger issue of healthcare reform was addressed earlier in the week when Gov. Schwarzenegger proposed sweeping changes to address healthcare access in the state.  Following are some of the details of his proposed plan: 
* Prevention, health promotion, and wellness
* Coverage for all Californians
* Affordability and cost containment

Highlights include:

Securing health coverage: Mandates that all Californians will be required to have health insurance coverage.   

Guaranteeing coverage: Insurers will be required to guarantee coverage so that all individuals have access to affordable products. 

Encouraging personal responsibility for health and wellness: Implements "Healthy Action Incentives/Rewards" programs in both the public and private sectors to encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors. 

Providing low-income individuals affordable coverage:  Very low-income Californians will be provided expanded access to public programs, such as Medi-Cal, and lower-income working residents will be provided financial assistance to help with the cost of coverage through a new state-administered purchasing pool.  Additionally, the Healthy Families Program will be expanded to serve those up to 300% FPL.

Increasing Medi-Cal rates significantly: To reduce the "hidden tax" associated with low Medi-Cal reimbursement and to encourage greater provider participation in the Medi-Cal program, increased Medi-Cal rates for providers, hospitals and health plans.
Improving insurer and hospital efficiency: Requires health plans (HMO's), insurers and hospitals to spend 85% of every premium dollar on patient care.

Enhancing Tax Breaks for Individuals and Employers for the Purchase of Insurance: Aligns state tax laws with federal laws by allowing persons to make pre-tax contributions to individual health care insurance Health Savings Accounts.  In addition, requires employers to establish "Section 125" plans so that employees can make tax-sheltered contributions to health insurance and save employers additional FICA contributions.

Contributing to the cost of coverage:  A coverage dividend of 2% on doctors and 4% on hospitals will be assessed to help cover the increased Medi-Cal rates.  Employers of 10 or more (small businesses, which make up 80% of California business, are exempt) who do not provide coverage will pay an "in-lieu fee" of 4% of payroll. 

NARAL Roe v. Wade Anniversary Luncheon and Action Summit

On February 1, 2007, NARAL of Napa and Sonoma Valley will hold a Roe v. Wade Anniversary Luncheon and Action Summit.  The luncheon will feature keynote speaker Sarah Weddington, abortion-rights advocate and Roe v. Wade Lawyer.  In 1973, at age 27, Sarah Weddington argued the winning side of the landmark case Roe v. Wade before the United States Supreme Court. She continues to be a nationally-known spokesperson for public issues and an advocate for women.

In addition, the Roe v. Wade Anniversary Luncheon and Action Summit will include:

• Hands-on training sessions
• Critical updates from nationally-recognized experts
• Winning talking points on reproductive rights
• Resources for monitoring local threats to choice

The luncheon will take place at the Meritage Resort in Napa from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on February 1st.  For more information and to register for the event, please click here.

Please join this gathering of friends and neighbors for a day of education and action to invigorate the reproductive rights movement in your community.