Newspapers Examine Myths, Facts About Abortion Coverage In Health Overhaul

With Congress on recess, lawmakers and advocates involved in the health reform debate are intensifying efforts to sway public opinion, including on proposals that affect abortion coverage. Two newspapers recently published articles examining myths and facts related to abortion coverage and other issues in the debate. Summaries appear below.

~ Los Angeles Times: "There has been no shortage of misinformation" on the "most contentious" issues in health care reform, such as abortion-related issues, the Los Angeles Times reports. Health reform legislation in the House and Senate does not include any requirement that federal funding be used for abortion services, as some critics have stated. Claims by some groups -- such as the Family Research Council -- that federal funding would be used for the procedure are "premature and somewhat misleading," according to the Los Angeles Times. The most popular Democratic proposals would allow people to buy insurance through a new, regulated marketplace that includes private insurers and a government option. Many people who would use the new health insurance exchanges would qualify for federal assistance to offset part of their premiums. The bills are "short on many details," including whether women who receive federally subsidized insurance would be able to purchase plans that cover abortion services, the Los Angeles Times reports. It is unlikely that the government would require plans to include coverage for abortion services; one version of reform legislation explicitly prohibits such a requirement. Some private insurers in the exchange might cover abortion services, and critics argue that the government could be helping fund abortion if a woman who qualifies for subsidized coverage selects one of these plans (Levey, Los Angeles Times, 8/10).

~ New York Times: While Congress is on recess, supporters and critics of Democrats' health overhaul proposals "are polishing their sound bites and sharpening their attack lines," the New York Times reports. According to the New York Times, it can be "difficult to sort fact from fiction" in the debate, particularly on "more complex" issues like abortion services. Abortion-rights opponents argue that the legislation would allow federally subsidized insurance plans to cover abortion services. Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said that bills in both chambers of Congress would allow the federal government to "run a huge system of subsidizing elective abortion." However, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said a bill approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would maintain current restrictions on the use of federal Medicaid dollars for abortion services but "would not expand the prohibitions, as many Republicans want to do." The bill would allow health plans, including a new government-run option, to choose whether to cover abortion services, although they generally could not use federal funding to pay for the procedure, the New York Times reports. Instead, plans would use funding from the premiums paid by members (Pear/Herszenhorn, New York Times, 8/10).


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