NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Applauds Commonwealth Connector for Careful Review of Joint Venture Between Centene and Caritas
Today, the Commonwealth Connector voted to accept a bid to expand the number of health plan options available to lower-income Massachusetts citizens. During the process, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts urged the Connector to carefully scrutinize this new entry into the healthcare system. For immediate release March 12, 2009 Contact: Andrea Miller 617-556-8800 x12 NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts Applauds Commonwealth Connector for Careful Review of Joint Venture Between Centene and Caritas
Group Vows to Monitor to Ensure Access to Family Planning and Other Reproductive Health Care Statement of Andrea Miller, Executive Director Boston, MA – Today, the Commonwealth Connector voted to accept a bid to expand the number of health plan options available to lower-income Massachusetts citizens through Commonwealth Care. During the process, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts urged the Connector to carefully scrutinize this new entry into the healthcare system because it involves a joint venture between Centene and Caritas - a Catholic affiliated network whose hospitals and members refuse to provide or refer for basic medical care mandated by law, including contraception, sterilization, and abortion. We are not privy to the details of the Centene-Caritas bid, but it does appear that the Connector has obtained affirmation from Centene-Caritas that low-income women and men of the Commonwealth will be “insulated” from the influence of Caritas in this system such that this joint venture will improve – not impede – access to basic care, including the reproductive and sexual health care required by law, and that clear, affirmative disclosures will be made so that people considering or enrolled in the plan are aware of the scope of services available, the limitations of particular providers, and their rights and options for obtaining family planning and other covered services. As an organization committed to ensuring access to critical, time-sensitive reproductive and sexual health services, we applaud the goals of Massachusetts health care reform to improve insurance coverage and access to care. Further, we salute the Connector for its commitment to improving the range of providers and plans available to lower-income citizens of the Commonwealth. But, we know that it’s in the real world where the rubber meets the road, so we will be diligent in monitoring the roll out and implementation of this plan - and we appreciate that the Connector Board members have pledged to be a partner in ensuring full disclosure and timely provision of medical care. We are also happy to offer our recommendations of best practices and our cautionary tales of barriers to care, based on experience here in Massachusetts and across the country. At the end of the day, we are hopeful that others share our commitment to improving access to care for the most vulnerable among us, including the legally guaranteed counseling and services that enable women and men to protect themselves against pregnancy and disease and make personal, private decisions about childbearing and reproduction. NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is the state's leading advocate for privacy and a woman's right to choose. # # #
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