Objectives: I investigate the potential impact of the current healthcare reform bill passed on unresolved public healthcare issues for women in Kentucky. I will prepare a white paper for use in the Kentucky Health and Welfare Committee to help guide their future policy making decisions in women’s health. 

Methods: Using public records from the state health department and federal government, I identify and quantify major women’s health issues in Kentucky, including major diseases affecting women and barriers that prevent women from accessing adequate healthcare. I then use existing summaries and text of the current health care reform bill to illustrate areas of the federal health policy that will affect these Kentucky women’s health concerns at the state level.

Results: I conclude that the federal healthcare reform will allow for improvements to the current state of health for Kentucky women. Furthermore, healthcare reform will provide funding for new and complement existing public health programs within Kentucky, such as providing incentives to remain healthy and cancer screening programs. I plan to discuss my findings with legislators at a meeting of the Kentucky State Health and Welfare Committee in July 2010.

Conclusions: Because federal healthcare reform has been signed into law, state level women’s health care will be affected, and improvements to Kentucky current health policy can be continued in order that Kentucky women can be healthy.

Implications for public health: This study is a practical translational public health project. It will result in a paper that will allow Kentucky legislators to be better informed about public health concerns and emerging federal policy in order to meet the needs of their constituents. 

Forward

Lord, make a channel of Thy peace that, where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that, where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that, where there is error, I may bring truth; that, where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that, where there is despair, I may bring hope; that, where there are shadows, I may bring light; that, where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted, to understand than to be understood; to love than to be loved; for it is by forgetting self that one finds; it is forgiving that one is forgiven; it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Courage is an essential ingredient in any landmark legislation, particularly when the attacks are as fierce and unrelenting -- and inaccurate -- as they have been over the past year.  I just want to commend members of Congress who had the courage to do what’s right -- and to say a special thank you to all of the newer members. The past couple of years have brought one challenge after another, and you’ve risen to the moment each time.  I could not be prouder of the work that all of you have done.  And it would not have happened had it not been for the incredible persistence and stick-to-itiveness of all the folks in the audience here today. 

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