BACK
TO NEWS
News
August 31, 2006
RCRC Urges Health Care Group to Ensure Religious Diversity Is Respected
RCRC today submitted comments to the government-appointed Citizens' Health
Care Working Group about its interim recommendations on reforming the American
health care system.
The Working Group will submit its final recommendations to Secretary of Health
and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt, who--according to the official document
containing the recommendations--"will carefully consider them and take
appropriate action." The 14 members of the Working Group were appointed
by the Comptroller of the United States.In addition, Leavitt is a member of
the Working Group but, according to the document, has not participated in
the development of the recommendations or endorsed them. For more information:
www.CitizensHealthCare.gov
August 31, 2006
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 1130
Washington DC 20005
Citizens’ Health Care Working Group
Attn: Interim Recommendations
7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 575
Bethesda, MD 20814
Dear Members of the Working Group,
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice appreciates the opportunity
to provide comments on the interim recommendations in the document “Health
Care That Works for All Americans.” We heartily support the recommendation
that all Americans have affordable health care, although we have concerns
that the content of that health care may be determined—to an extent—by
political pressure. We respectfully submit to you that, based on the long
experience of many religions in providing health care services, it is critical
to respect the religious diversity of the nation, especially in decisions
regarding reproductive health (including contraception, infertility treatments,
voluntary sterilization, and abortion).
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is a national non-profit
education and advocacy organization founded in 1973. Our members are national
religious and religiously affiliated organizations from 15 denominations,
including the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of
Christ, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, and Reform,
Conservative and Reconstructionist Judaism as well as independent religious
organizations from the Church of Christ (Disciples), Lutheran, Catholic, and
Church of Brethren traditions. All members have official policies in support
of reproductive choice, i.e., policies that have been adopted by their governing
bodies. The Coalition and member groups view decisions about reproductive
health and bearing children to be personal decisions of conscience, often
informed by and involving religious and moral beliefs, and as such, protected
under the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
I would like to make three points regarding the Interim Recommendations:
Respect for Religious Diversity. The Values and Principles
acknowledge that healthcare is a shared social responsibility and should not
be determined or restricted by “categorical factors” such as age,
income, health status, and working status. We respectfully propose adding
“creed” and/or “religion” as factors, as is customary
in non-discrimination policies. Our experience over more than 30 years of
education and advocacy is that there is a highly visible contingent that opposes
any legislation, policy or insurance coverage that would make reproductive
health services more available. It is important to ensure that this opposition
view not be considered as a consensus or mainstream viewpoint and not be adopted
as a standard for everyone. The religious and cultural diversity of the United
States should be acknowledged openly and clearly. Regarding contraception
and family planning (including counseling about contraception and treatment
for sexually transmitted diseases and infertility problems), individual decisions
regarding basic, legal healthcare should be respected and medically accurate
information and basic, legal healthcare should be available without barriers
or obstacles.
Core benefits/services. We are pleased that the recommendations specifically
address the importance of an “independent, fair, transparent, and scientific
process” in identifying core benefits and services. Women and men deserve
to have access to the full range of reproductive health services, including
contraception, medically accurate sexuality education, treatment for sexually
transmitted diseases, and unbiased information regarding abortion as an option.
Equally important, healthcare services must address the needs of pregnant
women and families, including universally available prenatal care to the pregnant
woman and post-natal care to the new mother and her child, as well as programs
such as WIC.
Commitment to serving the healthcare needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable
populations. In America’s increasingly profit-driven system,
it is urgent to recognize that health care is not a commodity like automobiles
but a human right. In our nation, the wealthiest and one of the most medically
advanced, we have tremendous disparities in healthcare and fail to provide
essential services for the most vulnerable. We believe a commitment to address
the disparities and the medical needs of the economically disadvantaged should
be clearly stated in the final recommendations. By way of illustrating the
need, one in five pregnant women does not receive timely prenatal care or
receives no prenatal care at all. Our infant mortality rate is the worst among
industrialized nations. We have one of the highest rates of unintended teen
pregnancy.
In conclusion, a healthcare policy for all Americans should be respectful
of religious diversity and committed to providing every patient in a publicly
supported institution with full information and timely services.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely
Reverend Carlton W. Veazey
President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
|
