Advocacy- Countdown to Access

AMWA Adovcacy Day March 2010

The AMWA / PRCH (Physicians for Reproductive Choice) Advocacy Day was held on Thursday, March 25, 2010 and was attended by over 70 physicians and medical students.  After a morning of training, attendees met with nearly 70 legislative representatives or their aides to advocate for the passage of the healthcare reconciliation bill, just two days after the landmark signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  That afternoon, the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 56 - 43 and the amended bill was passed by the House later in the evening with a vote of 220 - 207.  Photos of the event can be viewed at this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/42876106@N08/.

AMWA Invited to President Obama's White House Press Conference

Results are in! AMWA Members Overwhelmingly Support a Public Option

By Claudia S. Morrissey, MD, MPH
Immediate Past President-AMWA

As part of AMWA's ongoing commitment to be the vision and voice of women in medicine, AMWA recently fielded a membership survey on access to healthcare. The survey was designed to update information gathered from previous assessments to better inform our policy efforts at this critical juncture in US history. 

Of the survey respondents, the majority are physicians (69%) and physicians in training (26%); 3% are residents and 1% non-physician providers. The age of responders mirrors that of AMWA's membership with 40% 55 years or older, 31% 34 to 54 years, and 29% 18 through 33 years. Although physicians from over 20 specialties responded, the top specialties represented are Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. Forty percent of respondents works at an academic institution and 29% is in private practice. Others are retired or employed at HMOs or public institutions.

Read the full story here.

View the full set of results here.

Interested in learning more about Health Care Reform issues?  AMWA has compiled a list of organizations that are actively working to promote and affect reform.  Check out the list here.

Why Reform Matters for Women - Women as Advocates

When we look at the facts about women and health care, it's clear - a lot of progress needs to be made.

The National Women's Law Center's Reform Matters: Making Real Progress for Women and Health Care is a new project aimed at encouraging women to be active and vocal advocates in the fight for progressive health care reform and giving them the tools to do so.

Women and Health Care Reform Toolkits

The following toolkits for health care reform are specific to our needs as women:

• Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform has developed an excellent and practical toolkit, Health Care For All - Taking Action. Click here for the Toolkit.

•  The National Women's Law Center is finalizing its tool kit, Reform Matters Toolkit and is now taking orders for copies.