The House tri-committee health reform bill, released yesterday, does not overturn the Hyde Amendment, which prevents Medicaid from funding abortion for 7 million poor women. But it does contain one major victory for reproductive rights: It allows states to offer contraceptive coverage to poor women outside of Medicaid without first applying to the federal government for a waiver. The current waiver process is cumbersome and expensive. Only half of all states obtained a waiver, meaning that in the other half, poor women who do not meet Medicaid's strict eligibility requirements lack state-assistance in paying for birth control. Granted, the House bill is likely to be the most progressive of the three pieces of legislation that need to be reconciled before health reform reaches the president's desk. According to reproductive rights advocates privy to Senate Finance Committee negotiations, Democrat Max Baucus and Republican Chuck Grassley are engaged in tough debate over reproductive care. The waiver change may not survive that process. But still, this is a strong signal from House Democrats that they expect health reform to broaden -- not diminish -- access to family planning. --Dana Goldstein
