On Thursday, March 5th, President Obama held the White House Summit on Health Care Reform, which brought together members of Congress, health care experts and advocates in the field of health to discuss how our current health care system need to be revamped. The Summit follows the recent news that health care will be a major aspect of the budget plan, with a first ever down payment made towards ensuring health care access for all.President Obama asked Congress to set aside $634 billion over the course of ten years, much of the money coming from savings made from restructuring government spending on current public health programs.
Thankfully, some women’s health advocates attended the Summit, including Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Marcia Greenberger, President of the National Women’s LawCenter. Although it will be weeks before President Obama outlines specific plans to reform health care, it is reassuring to know that health care is a top priority for this administration. Tell Congress that health care means a lot to you too.
Watch Cecile Richards speak at the Summit about how reproductive health care is an essential part of overall health care: