The discussions surrounding contraception being included in the Health Care bill is not over. On February 23, 2012 it was reported that 2,500 evangelical leaders and pastors signed a letter protesting the requirement that contraceptives be provided. On February 23 I heard that a federal judge ruled that pharmacies cannot be forced to sell emergency contraceptives (the day after pill). On February 24 it was reported that 7 states joined the churches in suing the Obama administration over the requirement for religious organizations to provide birth control.
Okay - last year I heard that 1 in 5 girls between the age of 13 and 18 are on birth control pills; an increase of 50% in the past decade and the age is getting younger; some are 12. Doctors are prescribing the pills for cramps, acne, regulating periods and birth control. There are parents that are worried about the increased risk of blood clots and breast cancer. And, girls said that they don’t want to be put on the pill without being part of a prior discussion. Nonetheless, more parents are seeking out the pill for their girls. Dr. Mary Rosser of the Montefiore Medical Center thought it was okay if the child asked for the pill and said that it’s safer than a teen pregnancy. Dr. Erika Schwartz a women’s hormone specialist feels doctors are over prescribing the pill. Dr. Schwartz has found that women who have been on the pill for a long time have trouble conceiving and moods; she also said that depression and weight gain disappear in a child when the pill is stopped. Dr. Schwartz said doctors need to start weighing the risks of giving children birth control pills against the so called benefits (reducing cramps, acne and regulating periods).
On March 8, 2012 Tim O’Reilly was on the View and explained that Viagra is covered by medical insurance and therefore comes under the government’s guidelines for a medical condition because the Center for Disease Control (CDC) considers it an abnormality; the pill is only considered as contraception and not for a medical condition. Tim said that right now it’s in motion under Title 10 of the Public Health Act that if you need birth control and go to a federal clinic you get it (free) and if you go to WalMart or Target you can get it for $9 a month; he feels that to insert this issue into ObamaCare is unnecessary as people have the option of getting birth control but believes that the taxpayers (people, not the government) pays for the cost because it’s mandated that companies pay for it (in other words premiums will go up). Tim says birth control is an option rather than medical care that you have to have and that’s why he thinks the Catholic Church is asking for an opt out.
On March 9 Dr. Oz reported that doctors are giving the pill to women over 40 because it’s been discovered that the pill helps prevent ovarian cancer; this is a medical condition. As the medical issues outweigh the birth control issue the CDC needs to reconsider its classification of the pill and simply negate the discussions regarding the pill being used for contraceptive use only. In my February 13 blog I said that insurance companies reported that in the long run it actually is cheaper to for them to pay for the contraceptives than pregnancies so the rise in premiums shouldn’t be an issue. On February 21 hundreds of women stood mute and arm in arm at the Virginia (VA) capitol in protest of anti-abortion legislation and on February 23 VA dropped the portion requiring the invasive vaginal ultrasound. I find women having to take this or other actions to stop the government from forcing a religious belief on women atrocious if we truly have freedom of religion.
On March 7 it was reported that a study found that 20% of American families struggle with medical debt. The problem of medical care has been resolved by other countries and it’s time we resolve it here. The foolish argument over whether or not the providing of contraceptives be mandated is ridiculous; we have to provide children with care, we have to drive certain speeds on the roadways and more. I’ve beat the issue of contraceptives to death in previous blogs. I’m tired of people, the government, and the churches telling women what they can do with their bodies or forcing people to have children they don’t want and driving up the cost of government. Give them the damn pill if they want it.
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