Health Policy

Advocacy Updates

SWHR's Signature Piece of Legislation Included as a Provision in Historic Healthcare Reform Bill

The House of Representatives made history Saturday November 7, 2009 by passing The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) of 2009. SWHR's signature piece of legislation, the Women's Health Office Act (WHOA) was included as a provision in the historic Healthcare Reform Bill, making this a tremendous accomplishment for women's health research.

Women's health offices within federal agencies (e.g., FDA, SAMSHA, NIH, CDC) exist to increase public education awareness campaigns, clinical studies and research for and about women's health. Without adequate funding and staff provided by federal protection, these offices remain vulnerable to elimination due to insufficient funding and staffing resources. If eliminated women no longer have adequate resources, tools and/or information to make informed health care decisions.

In June 2009, The Women's Health Office Act was included as a provision in the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension (HELP) committee's health reform bill. The Senate is currently working to combine the bills from the HELP committee and the Senate Finance committee, creating a singular and final bill that will be submitted to the President and approved or vetoed. Read the full Bill.

Society hosts Congressional Briefing

Female Sexual Health: Sexual Dysfunction, HSDD, and Women
The Society for Women’s Health Research hosted a briefing, “Female Sexual Health: Sexual Dysfunction, HSDD, and Women," on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009.

Martha Nolan, J.D., vice president of public policy at the Society for Women’s Health Research, provided brief opening remarks and discussed the Society’s long-standing advocacy on the study of sex differences Nolan noted how research in the area of sexuality is largely focused on men.

Statement from Martha Nolan honoring Senator Edward Kennedy

Society Testifies to House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee

Eliminating the Gaps: Examining Women Veterans’ Issues

On July 16, 2009, Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research, testified for the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and the Subcommittee on Health of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on the important topic of eliminating the gaps in women veterans’ health care.

On behalf of the Society, Greenberger recommended that Congress request an update on the research conducted by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) since the establishment of its women’s health research agenda in November 2004. She also recommended that Congress provide the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the funding necessary to conduct research that will result in improved care for women veterans.

• Read Greenberger’s written testimony.    
• Watch Greenberger’s oral testimony.  
• Read a related Society article, "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women Returning from Combat".

Women’s Health Office Act introduced in House

SWHR Participates in White House Meeting on Women’s Health in Health Care Reform

Martha Nolan, vice president for Public Policy at the Society for Women’s Health Research, spoke at a White House meeting called to address women’s health issues and concerns in the health care system and implications for health care reform. The meeting was moderated by Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform and attended by other White House and HHS officials and webcast live.

The Society’s key priorities in the health care reform debate are

• Assuring women are included in clinical research and that the resulting discoveries are quickly translated into practice improving quality of care received by women
• The importance of sex and gender research within any comparative effectiveness research studies
• Addressing the proposed cuts on reimbursement for diagnostics and imaging
• Learn more.. 

Society Testifies to VA Committee - The Growing Needs of Women Veterans: Is the VA Ready?

On May 20, 2009 Phyllis Greenberger, CEO and President of the Society for Women’s Health Research advised the House Committee on Veterans Affairs that the Veterans Administration is uniquely situated to lead the nation in furthering essential sex differences research and in translating that research into clinical practice. Learn more about the meeting and read Ms. Greengberger's testimony.

SWHR Advocacy Priorities  Supporting the permanent authorization of women’s health offices at government agencies.  Working with the FDA to ensure that drugs are properly studied to determine if they have different effects on women and men.  Holding Congressional briefings on important women's health issues. SWHR Priority Issues Funding for Research Clinical Trials Sex-based Biology Drug Labeling

The Women’s Health Research Coalition (WHRC) - an advocacy network of leaders at academic medical, health and scientific institutions and other supportive organizations, united to encourage coordination and funding for women's health research. WHRC membership includes: a monthly Hotline Newsletter and invitations to advocacy events such as Congressional briefings.  Find out more about the Coalition  Join the Coalition

By contacting your Senator or Representative you can affect women's health. Find contact information for your representatives now  Sign up to receive our Action Alerts via email