The White House
Health Care Reform Today
October 18, 1993
This week, we will focus on preventive care
and women's health concerns. Key points to talk
about:
- The Health Security plan will cover a
schedule of preventive screenings, tests, and
checkups covered in only a few of today's health
insurance policies. These include regular
mammograms for women with a close family history
of breast cancer and will be covered under the
regular cost sharing provisions, like other
medical procedures.
- The nationally guaranteed comprehensive
benefits package will also include free coverage
for mammograms every two years for women over age
50 free-of-charge--no matter which plan someone
chooses, as an extra incentive for those most at
risk.
- Preventive services included in the
comprehensive benefits package are provided at
ages specified by the report of the U.S.
Preventative Services Task Force. These
recommendations can be modified by the National
Health Board as new information becomes available.
- New research initiatives will concentrate on
child health (including birth defects, prenatal
care, and adolescent health), and illnesses that
primarily strike women -- including breast cancer,
ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.
- Medical research initiatives will be expanded
to include efforts to isolate and cure diseases
such as breast cancer and cervical cancer.