September 26, 2023
The Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention continues to engage with key stakeholders on preventive healthcare issues, including maternal health, lung health, and laboratory testing. Since our last update, we have participated in important conversations taking shape at the highest levels of government and beyond.
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Cancer Screening: Additional Funding for the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is a critical driver of patient access to preventive health care. It needs a budget increase of $3 million for FY2024, bringing its total budget from $11.5 million to $14.5 million. The volunteer-based organization provides recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. Those with an A or B recommendation from USPSTF are provided to patients at no cost. AWHP signed a letter coordinated by Guardant Health to support this budget increase.
Read the full letter here.
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COVID-19 Vaccines: Establishing Updated Guidance to Foster Health Equity
This fall, updated COVID-19 vaccines were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In anticipation, AWHP signed a letter from the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Program to the Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, urging CDC to provide clear guidance for the use of the new COVID-19 vaccines.
Read the full letter here.
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Maternal Health: CARE For Moms Act
The CARE for Moms Act, introduced by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), supports the maternal health workforce, promotes access to prenatal and postpartum care, and provides the resources that moms and babies need to thrive. This legislation builds upon key provisions from Rep. Kelly’s MOMMAs Act, which have already been passed as part of bipartisan initiatives including the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, the Helping MOMS Act, and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act. AWHP recently issued a statement in support of the CARE for Moms Act.
Read the statement here.
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Lung Health: Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act
The Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to conduct an interagency review to evaluate existing research on women and lung cancer, assess how women are given access to lung cancer preventive services, and conduct public awareness campaigns on lung cancer. AWHP signed a letter coordinated by GO2 for Lung Cancer to support the passage of the act.
Read the full letter here.
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Laboratory Testing: Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA)
Earlier this year, AWHP joined several leading patient advocacy organizations in urging Senate and House leaders to protect access to clinical laboratory services by enacting the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) this year. SALSA is a straightforward solution to achieving accurate and sustainable Medicare rates for laboratory services. AWHP supported the American Clinical Laboratory Association’s SALSA Day of Action across social media on September 21.
Read more about SALSA here.
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Events and Conferences
AWHP’s CEO Millicent Gorham attended key conferences and events focused on uplifting the preventive health of women and girls, including the Women’s Health Innovation Summit. She is also expected to attend the Women in Government Summit in San Antonio.