Artciles by Cynthia

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has issued an “action alert” urging people to write in support of repealing the Bush administration’s expansion of “The Provider Refusal Rule.” “GBCS is concerned that the expansion, which was implemented during the previous administration’s final days, can negatively affect both men’s and women’s access to critical health services,” explained Linda Bales, director of GBCS’s Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project.

The expansion … can negatively affect both men’s and women’s access to critical health services.

President Obama is considering overturning the expansion, which went into effect on Jan. 22. He has imposed a 30-day period of public comment, which closes April 9.

“The Provider Refusal Rule” is a 30-year-old federal statute that permits health-care providers, based on their conscience, to choose not to perform abortions. “The Bush administration’s expansion of the rule opens the door for health-care workers, including all hospital employees and those working in public health clinics, to arbitrarily refuse to provide services such as contraception, blood transfusions, infertility treatment and family planning counseling,” said Bales. She and the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, director of GBCS’s Alcohol, Addictions and Health Care work area, signed the action alert.

The refusal rule applies to any health-care organization that receives funding from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The rule requires any entity receiving funding from DHHS “to certify that it does not discriminate against organizations or individuals who do not want to provide services they consider objectionable.”

“Broadening of ‘The Provider Refusal Rule’ undermines the ability of organizations to guarantee that they will provide comprehensive health services,” Bales pointed out. “Disruption of that guarantee puts patients’ health at risk.”

The United Methodist Church strongly believes health care is a basic human right.

Abrams emphasized that The United Methodist Church strongly believes health care is a basic human right. “Our Social Principles state that providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease and restore health after injury or illness ‘is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all,’” she said. The United Methodist Church also supports providing reproductive health care for women.

Those who oppose repeal of the refusal rule expansion claim doing so indicates the Obama administration is not interested in reducing unplanned pregnancies and abortions. “That is not so,” Bales said. “Administration officials have told GBCS that these are important priorities. They assure that repeal of the expansion to the refusal rule will have no bearing on those priorities.”

Comments on the repeal are being accepted by letter, by e-mail or via the Web. The comment period closes April 9. GBCS has provided a sample message that can be submitted through its UMPower directly to DHHS.

1. Through UMPower: Go to www.umc-gbcs.org/ProviderRefusalRule and complete online action letter.
2. Through the Web: www.Regulations.gov. Under Search Documents, click check box (“Select to find documents accepting comments or submissions”), and enter the keywords “Rescission Proposal” in the search field. Attachments may be in Microsoft Word (preferred), WordPerfect or Excel.
3. Via e-mail: proposedrescission@hhs.gov.
4. By Postal Service: Send one original and two copies of your comments to Office of Public Health and Science, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Attention: Rescission Proposal Comments, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave. S.W, Room 716G, Washington, DC 20201.

For more on health care-related topics, visit the “Health & Wholeness” page on the General Board of Church & Society Web site: Health and Wholeness.

Health & Wholeness Action Network

The Rev. Cynthia Abrams supervises a Health & Wholeness Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues such as access to health care, Medicare, Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), mental health access and parity. She issues “Action Alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Health & Wholeness Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church and Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641. Cynthia Abrams can be reached at (202) 488-5636.

Women’s Concerns

Through the Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project, the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society addresses issues specifically affecting women. Key issues of the project are HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, family planning and reproductive health, and human trafficking.

The Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project works collaboratively with other agencies and/or organizations on issues that affect women. Its partners include United Methodist Women, United Methodist General Commission on the Status & Role of Women, Women's Edge Coalition, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Religious Advocates Working Group, and International Family Planning Coalition.

More information about the project and GBCS’s activities is available at Women’s Concerns.

Women’s and Children’s Action Network

Linda Bales supervises an “Action Network” that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues. She issues action alerts periodically through e-mail on such topics as domestic violence, population growth, women’s, health, human trafficking, child marriage and child labor.

Joining the Women’s and Children’s Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church & Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641. Linda Bales can be reached at (202) 488-5649.