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SCR165.....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE - STUDY - Stating findings of the Legislature
concerning the status of women's health care in Idaho and directing the
Department of Health and Welfare and the Department of Insurance to conduct
studies and report findings to the Legislature.
03/27 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/28 Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
03/29 10th ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Title apvd - to House
03/30 House intro - 1st rdg - to Health/Wel
SCR165
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2000
IN THE SENATE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 165
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 STATING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE CONCERNING THE STATUS OF WOMEN'S HEALTH
3 CARE IN IDAHO AND DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE AND
4 DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CONDUCT STUDIES AND REPORT FINDINGS TO THE LEG-
5 ISLATURE.
6 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
7 WHEREAS, the state of Idaho values the health of its mothers, daughters,
8 grandmothers and sisters; and
9 WHEREAS, the state of Idaho recognizes the need to redress inequities in
10 research, health care services and education that may place the health of
11 women at risk; and
12 WHEREAS, women's reproductive health needs are a primary part of their
13 health concerns from preteen to midlife years; and
14 WHEREAS, of women who don't have insurance, nearly half receive inadequate
15 health care; and
16 WHEREAS, women pay on average 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care
17 costs than men; and
18 WHEREAS, the median number of women in Idaho who have not had a Pap smear
19 within three years is greater than the median number of women nationally, and
20 it is increasing; and
21 WHEREAS, most of Idaho is designated as "rural" and "frontier" and access
22 to certified rural health clinics for women is limited; and
23 WHEREAS, Idaho is designated as having health professional shortage areas,
24 and is forty-ninth in the nation for number of gynecologists per 1,000 women
25 in the state; and
26 WHEREAS, studies show that adequate prenatal health care is essential for
27 the birth of healthy babies; and
28 WHEREAS, the population of Hispanic Idaho women has increased by more than
29 72 percent over eight years and almost half have inadequate access to prenatal
30 care; and
31 WHEREAS, the "Kids Count" report found that Idaho's low birth weight rate
32 has been inching upwards, from 5.4 percent in 1992-94 to 6.0 percent in
33 1996-98, and this is directly related to the rate of prenatal care which, dur-
34 ing the same period, climbed to a level of 30 percent of women who are without
35 adequate prenatal care; and
36 WHEREAS, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for
37 Idaho women, and the incidence of breast cancer increases with age; and
38 WHEREAS, screening and early detection is the best prevention method for
39 reducing cancer complications and costs; and
40 WHEREAS, from the consolidated data, effective assessments can inform pro-
41 gram development and policy direction and stimulate the development and imple-
42 mentation of effective women's health policies and programs at the highest
43 levels of state and local government.
44 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
2
1 sion of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
2 sentatives concurring therein, that the Department of Health and Welfare shall
3 conduct a study of uninsured and underinsured Idaho women, develop recommenda-
4 tions that foster collaboration and coordination of women's reproductive
5 health initiatives and activities throughout the Department of Health and
6 Welfare and assure that limited resources are used most efficiently. The study
7 shall consolidate fragmented data so that the state can efficiently assess the
8 data we have, identify gaps in data collections, and eliminate disparities.
9 The study shall identify methods to promote access and important public health
10 goals such as preventing unintended pregnancies, preventing reproductive
11 cancers, promoting prenatal care, and preventing sexually transmitted dis-
12 eases. The Department of Insurance is directed to work cooperatively with the
13 Department of Health and Welfare by conducting a survey to determine the level
14 of reproductive health benefit coverage offered in health insurance plans mar-
15 keted in Idaho.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the studies and reports commissioned by this
17 resolution shall be transmitted by the Department of Health and Welfare to the
18 First Regular Session of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS #10309
The purpose of this legislation is to identify trends, gaps and disparities
among Idaho women in the healthcare system. the studies will provide critical
data for planning and implementation of effective women's health policies and
programs.
FISCAL IMPACT
It is anticipated that the study can be done for between $10,000 and
$30,000 dollars. The source of funding will be left to the discretion of the
Department of Health and Welfare. The Department may apply for appropriate
grants, private donations, or other funds to conduct the study.
Contact
Name: John Sandy
Phone: (208) 332-1305
Name: Senator Judi Danielson
Phone: (208) 332-1307
Name: Senator Betsy Dunklin
Phone: (208) 332-1356
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SCR 165