POWER TO DECIDE APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT
(Washington, D.C.) — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives in a 220-213 vote passed the Build Back Better Act, H.R. 5376. The bill would expand access to health care for millions of people giving them greater power to decide their futures.
The Build Back Better Act would close the Medicaid coverage gap, enhance subsidies for health insurance plans offered as part of the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicaid post-partum coverage to 12 months and invest in addressing maternal health disparities and birth equity. These provisions will ensure that everyone has the health coverage they need and the ability to achieve their own reproductive well-being.
In response, Power to Decide, CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley issued the following statement:
“We thank our Congressional champions for passing this historic legislation investing in the health of our country. Key provisions of the legislation will expand health insurance coverage for roughly 800,000 women of reproductive age, of whom two-thirds are women of color.
“For many years, the health care system has disproportionately harmed people who already face systemic barriers to access health care including people of color, people living in rural areas and those working to make ends meet. The provisions of this bill that address maternal health disparities and advance birth equity are steps in the right direction to address the systemic barriers pregnant people of color face.
“By expanding health insurance coverage and affordability more people will gain access to the reproductive health care they deserve. We urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act in order to ensure that everyone has the ability to access the health care they deserve so they can live life on their own terms.”
Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
