Abortion Rights Advocates in House Signal Strong Commitment to Inclusion in National Health Plan

Abortion rights advocates in the House have signaled a strong commitment to including coverage for abortion services in any national health plan, expressing their support for the inclusion of such services in exchange for their backing for the health care bill. This development comes as the nation's Roman Catholic bishops have announced their intention to fight the inclusion of abortion in the basic benefit package guaranteed in any health care law, citing their moral and religious objections. The dispute over abortion has always been expected to be an important part of the end game of health care legislation, and today's dueling ultimatums have come as no surprise to Democratic strategists trying to piece together a majority for a health care bill.

Key Takeaways:

• 70 Democrats in the House signed a letter to Representative Thomas S. Foley, expressing their "strong commitment" to covering abortion services in any national health plan.
• The letter was timed to coincide with the announcement by the nation's Roman Catholic bishops that they would mobilize church members to fight any health legislation that required benefits packages that included abortion coverage.
• A group of conservative and moderate Democrats in the House met to try to exert some influence on the floor fight over health care legislation, pitching a bipartisan alternative that would seek to expand coverage and reorganize the health marketplace without putting new requirements on businesses to pay for insurance.
• Separate coverage for abortion services is being considered as an alternative to including them in the basic benefits package, making it optional but available for a separate premium.
• The Senate Finance Committee expanded the conscience clause to allow employers, insurers, or other health plans to refuse to buy or provide abortion coverage if it is objectionable on the basis of a moral belief or religious conviction.
• Representative Peter A. DeFazio and several other Democrats stated that they would vote against any health plan if it did not provide full coverage of abortion; however, the letter signed by Democrats was more cautiously worded, requesting coverage for "contraceptive and abortion services" as a condition of support.
• Representative Patricia Schroeder argued that dropping abortion coverage from the basic package would relegate women to second-class citizenship.
• The American Hospital Association began a campaign to prevent large cuts in the growth of Medicare as a way to finance health care for the uninsured.

Statistics:

• 70 Democrats signed the letter to Representative Thomas S. Foley expressing their commitment to coverage of abortion services.
• At least five Republicans also signed the letter.
• Over 100 members of the House have signed on to bipartisan, more incremental approaches to overhauling the health care system.
• 40 members attended a meeting to form a working group to come up with a bipartisan alternative.
• Senator Edward M. Kennedy suggested requiring employers to pay 50 percent of the premium cost and cover only the worker, with higher employer contributions and coverage for dependents to be phased in later.

Sources:

• "Democrats' Letter to Foley on Health Care" (New York Times, 19??)
• "House and Senate Leaders Work to Combine Bills" (New York Times, 19??)
• "Lobbyists Press Views on Medicare Cuts and Abortion" (New York Times, 19??)
• "American Hospital Association Campaigns Against Medicare Cuts" (New York Times, 19??)