Advocacy
A leading advocate for women's health and women in medicine, AMWA is an active participant in setting national health care policy and influencing legislation on women's health issues. Click here to see a current listing of letters and amici that AMWA has supported.
Upcoming Advocacy Day
Make your voices heard in health care reform and other legislative matters! Join us Thursday, March 25, 2010 for Advocacy Day immediately before the Women's Health Congress/ 95th Anniversary AMWA Meeting. There will be a panel discussion in the morning and we will meet with our Legislators and/or their Health Legislative Assistants in the afternoon. If you are interested please RSVP to Laurel Waters at lwatersmd@yahoo.com.
Countdown to Universal Access
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 health care. The survey was designed to update information gathered from previous assessments to better inform our policy efforts at this critical juncture in US history. Read the full report here.
Public Option Support
By Dr Laurel Waters, FCAP, FASCP
President Barack Obama named October 20, 2009 as "Time to Deliver Health Reform Call Party". People were encouraged to go to healthcare.barackobama.com to read his proposal. The particular emphasis was on the importance of a Public Option. There was a goal of 100,000 calls in that one day and well over 300,000 calls were made.
In California there was particular attention paid to Senator Diane Feinstein who was not clearly behind the Public Option. Dr Laurel Waters, AMWA Board of Directors and Branch 30, on that day joined the Flying Doctors ( flyingdocs.org ) in honor of Dr Helen Loewenstein. Dr. Loewenstein had been an active member of the AMWA Branch 30 and the Flying Doctors until her death. Dr Waters called about 100 people that day. Dr Waters would like to encourage you to continue the calls in support of the Public Option to your Legislators.
A leading advocate for women's health and women in medicine, AMWA is an active participant in setting national health care policy and influencing legislation on women's health issues. Click here to see a current listing of letters and amici that AMWA has supported.
AMWA In the News
AMWA & PRCH Go to Capitol Hill for Health Care and Reproductive Health Reform
Physicians and Students Visit with Legislatures at the First Annual Advocacy Day Co-Sponsored by AMWA & PRCH
PRLog (Press Release) - Jul 04, 2009 - Washington D.C., June 12, 2009 - A group of National AMWA Students joined AMWA physicians and PRCH (Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health) in a co-sponsored advocacy day on Capitol Hill from June 11-12, 2009. Over 30 physicians and four medical students took part in the first annual "Conversations on the Hill" Advocacy Day.
From the moment the group arrived in Washington, DC, the education and empowerment began as the participants were taught the tools and skills necessary to meet and speak confidently with congressmen and women about health reform. Divided into regions, the groups were briefed on the positions of the legislators and roll-played with PRCH staff to prepare for an exciting day on Capitol Hill. The next morning, the AMWA and PRCH group walked to the Hill to advocate for quality, accessible health care for all and for the inclusion of reproductive health care in the upcoming health legislation.
Additionally, the AMWA and PRCH members advocated for a public plan, the inclusion of comprehensive reproductive health services in the health reform bill, and the maintenance of Medicaid and Title 10 funding. At the conclusion of the day the group had met with a total of 47 legislative offices, specifically members of the five committees in the House and Senate responsible for drafting the upcoming health care reform bill.
Only two days prior to the visit, the Senate had dropped one health reform bill and the House was expected to draft and drop bills the following week. "The event was very exciting because we were able to not only witness but were actively a part of shaping the upcoming health reform!" said Siatta Dunbar, AMWA Student Advocacy Co-Chairperson. She added, "These are defining moments in history, when real change and reform are possible. We will continue to advocate for a working health care system that protects the health of our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, friends, and patients!"
For more information on the First Annual Advocacy Day, please contact AMWA Student Advocacy Co-Chairs Dani Barnes and Siatta Dunbar at AMWAStudentAdvocacy@gmail.com.
