WEALTH

Newsletter of the WIN Womens Health Policy Network

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March 2013

Happy Anniversary, Affordable Care Act!

March 23rd marked the 3-year anniversary of the signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). This landmark legislation was the culmination of many efforts to reform health care, and provides coverage to the millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans. In the three years since the ACA has been implemented, Americans are already seeing improvements in the quality of health care. The ACA includes a number of provisions that specifically benefit womens health. adults to stay on their health insurance until the age of 26, allowing more than 2.5 million young people to get coverage. The law also provides an option for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions to enroll in a PreExisting Condition Insurance Plan. More to come in 2014: Starting January 1, insurance companies will no longer be able to utilize gender-based rates or deny women coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Additionally, all plans must provide essential health benefits, including maternity and newborn care. Expanded Preventive Care Services: All new health plans are required to provide preventive care services with no addition- Medicaid coverage will also improve healthcare access for millions of women while health insurance exchanges will al co-pays, including well-woman visits, mammograms and provide more affordable options to obtain coverage in the cervical cancer screenings, FDA-approved contraception, individual market. pre-natal screenings and lactation consultation and supplies, counseling for intimate partner violence, and counsel- See the NWLC website for more information on how the ACA is improving womens health. Also, check out new HHS ing regarding sexually transmitted infections and HIV. informational resources on the ACA at Affordable Care Act at 3: Improved Access to Insurance: The ACA allows young Looking Forward and Expanding Access.

Network Announcement
Tuesday, May 7, 6-8:30 pm: This Spring Week of WIN, join the Womens Health Policy, Lobbying & Advocacy, and Health, Wellness, & Recreation Networks for our semi-annual speednetworking event, Speed-date a WINner in Policy & Advocacy! Come meet other professionals in policy, government relations, and advocacy. All experience levels and fields are welcome. Stay tuned to the WINlist for details!

Recent Womens Health Action on the Hill

March 13: House Armed Services Subcommittee

Did You Know?

March is: National Nutrition Month: National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Learn more at www.eatright.org.
National Endometriosis Awareness Month:

on Military Personnel held a hearing, Impact of the Continuing Resolution, Sequestration, and Declining Operations and Maintenance Budgets on Military Personnel and Family Related Programs. House approved the Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act (H.R. 890). Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing, Sexual Assaults in the Military. March 18: Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing, How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Should Address the Needs of Women and Families. Source: Womens Policy Inc.

Recommended Reading
Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice by Jael Silli-

Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining migrates outside the womb and implants in other areas of the body. Up to 4% of women and girls globally have endometriosis. Visit the Endometriosis Research Center and the Society for Womens Health Research to learn more.

man, Marlene Gerber Fried, Loretta Ross, & Elena Gutierrez Undivided Rights captures the evolving activist history of women of color organizing for reproductive justice on their own behalf. Using historical research, organizational case studies, and interviews, the authors illuminate how women of color have led the fight to control their own bodies and reproductive destinies. Page 1 of 2

Meet a WINner in Womens Health!

Alana Lerer Scientific Programs Administrator Society for Womens Health Research

During my last internship, the organizations President kindly connected me with the President of Society for Womens Health Research, I set up an informational interview, which led to an opportunity. The right timing and the right connections made a significant difference for me in acquiring my position. I have come to appreciate the value of networking due to this chain of events.

proving their health.

What skills/training do you think have been most useful? What skills/training do you wish youd had?
Taking initiative and being able to network successfully have been highly useful while both job searching and in the workplace. Other marketable skills Ive gained are computer software and database experience. Id like to improve my time management skills.

What does your job entail?

I am currently coordinating a Washington, DC conference, What a Difference an X Makes The State of Womens Health ReMy first college public health class expanded my interest in addressing search, focusing on innovative research in health disparities, especially in wom- women's health and sex-based differences en's health and nutrition policy. After in disease. I am also coordinating a reassisting with an obesity prevention search grant for pilot projects that will be studying how mobile phone technology campaign at the NYC Health Department, I moved to DC to pursue can improve health and reduce chronic disease for underserved women. an internship at a nutrition policyWhat is the most challenging aspect of focused non-profit, Center for Sciyour job? Most rewarding aspect? ence in the Public Interest (CSPI). CSPI ignited my passion to improve The most challenging aspect is handling health policy -it made me feel our multiple and shifting priorities under nuefforts would improve the health of merous authorities. The most rewarding large populations. aspect is working collaboratively and straHow did you come to join the So- tegically with my team to reach common goals. I feel extremely privileged to be ciety for Womens Health Reworking to empower women through imsearch?

What led you to do womens health work?

What are your long-term professional interests?

I'd like to continue in this line of work for several years, followed by attaining my MPH. In the future, I want to lead an organization focused on improving the health of and reducing chronic disease in women.

What advice would you give to young women just starting out in your field?
I recently came out of a long job search while pursuing several internships. Stay open to internships while job searching. During your internships, set up informational interviews within and outside your organization. The contacts, skills and experiences Ive gained during my internships directly led to my current position. Be persistent and stay positive!

Upcoming Health Policy Events

April 1, 10 am: Institute of Medicine Public Dialogue Session: Evaluation of PEPFAR. Washington, D.C. Learn more. April 2, 3-4:30 pm: HRSA Webcast: Linked by Life: The Case for Collaboration of MCH and Chronic Disease to Improve Infant & Women's Health. Learn more. April 12, 12-1 pm: UNMC Center for Reducing Health Disparities Webcast: Achieving Healthy Equity: Addressing the Impacts of Racism on Health. Learn more. April 15, 3-4:30 pm: NOW Legal Momentum Webinar: Raped or Seduced? How Language Helps Shape Our Response to Sexual Violence. Learn more. April 15: National Center for Health and the Aging: 2013 Na-

New Health Policy Resources

Health Affairs: New

tional Primary Care on Aging Symposium. Arlington, VA. Learn more. April 16, 12-1:30 pm: Womens Policy Inc Briefing: Womens Health Prevention Priorities. Rayburn Building. RSVP to leah@womenspolicy.org. April 17-18: Institute of Medicine Workshop: Elder Abuse and its Prevention. Washington, D.C. Learn more. April 22, 2-3 pm: MD Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform Webinar: Leveraging Health Care Reform: Cultural Competency & Health Literacy. Learn more. May 2, 12-1:30 pm: Mathemetica Issue Forum: Using Methodological Approaches From Varied Disciplines For Health Services Research. Washington, D.C. Learn more..

in the uninsured.
New infographic,

brief examines the Medicaid Expansion ACA Consumer OperUnder the Affordable ated and Oriented Plan Care Act. (CO-OP) program. New checklist, En HHS Office of Adolessuring the Health cent Health: New fact Care Needs of Womsheet, March 2013: en: A Checklist for Health Snapshot - HisHealth Exchanges. panic Adolescents in the Maryland Prevention United States. and Health Promotion Institute of Medicine: Administration Office: New report, Returning New HIV data fact Home from Iraq and Afsheet available. ghanistan: Readjustment Office of the National Needs of Veterans, Service Coordinator: New Members, and Their online resources on Families. adoption of electronic Kaiser Family Foundahealth records for small tion: and critical access hos New brief examines pitals. the recent decline
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