Posted by Stephanie Condon
Health care reform is very much an issue of women's rights.
Language regarding abortion coverage remains one of the divisive issues in Washington's legislative debate.
At today's summit, numerous legislators have used examples of health care problems unique, or mostly unique, to women as examples of problems that need to be solved -- getting coverage for breast cancer, letting insurance companies versus doctors decide for how long a woman may stay at the hospital after giving birth, or ensuring that women do not have to pay more for insurance than men.
Looking around the table today, however, women are vastly underrepresented. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is heading up the congressional delegation. She is joined by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), as well as Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is at the meeting as well.
That's five women out of more than 40 attendees.
Language regarding abortion coverage remains one of the divisive issues in Washington's legislative debate.
At today's summit, numerous legislators have used examples of health care problems unique, or mostly unique, to women as examples of problems that need to be solved -- getting coverage for breast cancer, letting insurance companies versus doctors decide for how long a woman may stay at the hospital after giving birth, or ensuring that women do not have to pay more for insurance than men.
Looking around the table today, however, women are vastly underrepresented. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is heading up the congressional delegation. She is joined by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), as well as Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is at the meeting as well.
That's five women out of more than 40 attendees.
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