Amidst the tireless debate surrounding the health care reform act, the Obama administration is figuring out whether the new law could require insurance companies to provide free contraceptives and family planning.
The law says that insurers must cover "preventive health services" without charge, but according to the New York Times, an amendment from Senator Barbara A. Mikulski required officials to weigh the "unique health needs of women".
Since Congress and the Obama administration are too afraid to dive into the uberpolitical-messy-girlystuff, a panel of outside experts was called upon to identify the specific preventive services that must be covered for women.
Aside from birth control and family planning, preventive care services could also include screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, domestic violence, and doctor visits for women trying to become pregnant.
Opponents believe that this could create a conflict in the consciences of employers who have moral objections to birth control. Others say that including birth control in preventive care would imply that pregnancy and fertility are diseases. Whatever.
For the life of me, I still cannot understand why these ideas remain controversial.
I can respect the opinions of those who do not wish to take contraceptives.
But trying relentlessly to restrict access to birth control because you don't agree with it is like trying to remove James Cameron movies from the shelves of all Blockbuster stores because you prefer Spielberg.
Anyway, the study hasn't come back yet. And the future of the entire health care bill is still pretty much up in the air.
So, we can't start celebrating yet, but it is nice to hear at least a soft murmuring of women's issues in D.C.
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