Question

what policies on reproductive health would you suggest especially in terms of government funding for reproductive services for the poor or near-poor? Would you advocate or qualify someone for costly reproductive services for an infertile woman who may be single and on welfare and Medicaid? What legislative actions would you recommend.

Answer 1

Women's health is a state of complete mental, physical, spiritual and social well-being for all female infants, girls, and women regardless of age, socio-economic status, class, race, ethnicity and geographic location.

The reproductive issues of women consist of sexual issues, menstrual disorders, infertility, contraception, abortion, and menopause.

* During the recent eras, the health of Americans has been improved than past decades.

Many poor socio-economic, low educated or disabled Americans, as well as people of color, have not to be benefited from many of the recent health programs for the population as a whole.

Medicare, Medicaid, and community health centers were focused on reducing disparities, in relation to poverty and legal rights regarding health care.

Policies on Reproductive Health:

*Federally funded family planning program: Through this program, there is an attempt to ensure that any woman regardless of age, marital status, income or health insurance status has access to the contraceptive services she wants and needs.

*Highlights the Hyde Amendment: The government has taken the responsibility of poor women faced with an unintended pregnancy.

*Medicaid eligibility expansion for pregnant women

$\rightarrow$ The amount of funding by the government is too small for the costly reproductive services for infertile women.

*The cost of supplying the drugs and treatments is probably less than half a million dollars annually.

*The main fact is that the federal government pays 90 percent of every Medicaid dollar states to spend on "family planning services".

But most of the U.S taxpayers fund the vast majority on fertility assistance, why because of the related cost run much higher.

Most states that cover fertility services under Medicare aren't specifically trying to promote fertility. They have just traditionally covered most FDA-approved drugs whenever a doctor has prescribed them.

This practice makes no extra benefits to the women and there is a real inconsistency between the covering drugs.

$\rightarrow$ *Infertility services covering a comprehensive range of fertility strategies should be complementary to population policies and programmes of maternal and child health.

*Equitable access to affordable, quality care should contribute to public health and become government policy, as a minimal standard.

*Infertile patient organizations should be involved in patient education, publicity, and advocacy.

*Advocacy of reproductive rights in the area of infertility is essential to gain community, professional and government support.