Physicians' Group Calls for Policies that Better Support Women's Health

By Jane Farrell

The American College of Physicians (ACP) is calling for health-care policies that better support the challenges women face in the U.S. health care system.

The organization’s position paper, “Women’s Health Policy,” is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

According to a news release from the ACP and the Annals of Internal Medicine, the paper addresses a wide range of issues, such as support for paid family and medical leave, recommendations on policies to reduce domestic violence, sexual abuse and harassment, and participation in clinical trials. The document also addresses access to coverage, including coverage for medically necessary reproductive services, and opposition to policies that would create barriers to their access to reproductive health services.

ACP urges policymakers to strongly consider how to better integrate women’s health needs over the course of their lifetime. Ensuring that women have access to non-discriminatory health care coverage is essential to improving the overall health and well-being of women living in the U.S., and a longstanding goal of ACP.

This paper was developed by ACP’s Health and Public Policy Committee, which addresses issues that affect the health care of the American public and the practice of internal medicine and its subspecialties. ACP’s evidence-based public policy positions are based on reviewed literature and input from the ACP’s Board of Governors, Board of Regents, additional ACP councils, and nonmember experts in the field.

“Addressing women’s health,” said ACP President Ana Maria Lopez, MD, FACP, “will not only achieve health equity, which is a critical goal of the American College of Physicians, but will also improve the health of citizens and of future generations.”