Compromise Keeps Birth Control Coverage
issue where people of good will on
both sides of the debate have been
sorting through some very compli­
cated questions."
Women will still get guaranteed
access to birth control without co­
pays or premiums no matter where
( AP) — President Barack Obama,
they work, a provision of Obama's
struggling with a political storm that
health care law that he insisted must
has threatened to keep building,
remain. But religious universities
announced a birth control compro­
and hospitals that see contracep­
mise Friday that he said would both
tion as an unconscionable violation
protect religious liberties and en­
of their faith can refuse to cover it,
sure that the nation's women have
and
insurance companies will then
access to free contraception.
have to step in to do so.
After weeks of growing contro­
The White House did get the
versy, Obama backed off a recently
President
Barack
Obama
and
Health
and
Human
Services
Secretary
backing of one important Catholic
announced requirement for reli­
Kathleen
Sebelious
appear
before
the
media
Friday
to
announce
a
organization, as well as a prominent
gious-affiliated employers to pro­
compromise
that
gives
religious
employers
a
way
o
f
not
having
to
pay
women's group.
vide free birth control coverage even
for
free
contraceptive
insurance
coverage
for
workers.
(AP
photo)
"The framework developed has
if it runs counter to their beliefs.
"I understand som e folks in responded to the issues we identified
Instead, workers at such institu­ tected, and a law that requires free
tions will be able to get free contra­ preventive care will not discrimi­ Washington want to treat this as that needed to be fixed," Sister Carol
ception directly from health insur­ nate against women," Obama said another political wedge issue. But it Keehan, president of the Catholic
in an appearance in the W hite shouldn't be. I certainly never saw it Health Association, a trade group
ance companies.
that way," Obama said. "This is an representing Catholic hospitals that
"Religious liberty will be pro- House briefing room.
Free preventive
care will be paid
by insurers
had fought against the birth control
requirement, said in a statement.
Planned Parenthood also backed
the revisions, saying the Obama
administration was still committed
to ensuring all women have access
to birth control coverage, no matter
where they work.
By keeping free contraception
for employers at religious work­
places — but providing a different
way to do it — Obama was able to
ass*ert he gave no ground on the
basic principle of full preventive
care that matters most to Obama.
Yet, it also was clear that the
president felt he had no choice but
to retreat on a three-week-old policy
in the face of a fierce political furor
that showed no signs of cooling.
Officials said Obama has the le­
gal authority to order insurance
companies to provide free contra­
ception coverage directly to work­
ers. He will demand it in a new rule.
IHMHMWa
Women Urged to Take Action on Heart Health
Miss Black USA
raises awareness
February is A m erican Heart
M onth and Black H istory M onth,
and Miss Black USA 2011 Ocielia
G ibson is urging wom en to learn
Dr. Dawn C arroll, the M iss
Black USA Pageant’s official phy­
sician, believes that fighting heart
disease starts with girls before
they reach adulthood. “If we reach
women at a much younger age, we
can prevent the disease later,” Dr.
C arroll says.
This is in line with the concerns
of First Lady Michelle Obama, who
started the non-profit organization
L et’s Move! to raise awareness
about the childhood obesity epi­
demic and take strides to end it.
According to the organization,
a third of all American children are
overw eight or obese, and in A fri­
can Am erican and Hispanic com ­
m unities, the epidem ic is even
worse. Alm ost 40 percent o f A fri­
can Am erican and Hispanic ch il­
dren are overw eight.
In addition to advocating for
heart health, Gibson has also started
her own non-profit organization,
which helps young girls learn how
to make healthier choices. More
than a Pretty Face, Inc. reaches out
to both girls dealing with self-es­
teem issues and not making healthy
choices. Gibson runs a mentor pro­
gram and holds summits and work­
shops for girls to inspire them to
change their lives and make better
decisions about their health and
their lives.
O cielia Gibson is the first M iss
Black Texas to win the national
title of M iss Black USA. Gibson is
a classically trained pianist who
began training at a young age and
then went on to earn a B achelor o f
Arts in M usic Education from
Texas W om en’s University.
Ocielia Gibson
the signs of heart disease and
m ake healthier choices to fight
back against this highly prevent­
able disease.
G ibson is no stranger to the
seriousness of heart disease. She
lost her father to cardiovascular
disease when she was a child.
“Heart disease is serious busi­
ness,” G ibson says. “I know per­
sonally the devastating effects.
Being able to be an advocate for
heart disease aw areness now is
the greatest tribute I can pay to
my dad.”
We
a r e WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATES.
www.whallc.com
RECOMMENDED BY BABIES ALL OVER THE PORTLAND METRO AREA.