Bill Overview
Title: Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act
Description: This bill establishes various grants and related programs that address sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the Health Resources and Services Administration must support training for health care providers who offer sexual and reproductive health care to individuals with disabilities, and educating individuals with disabilities about sexual and reproductive health care. The Administration for Community Living must establish a national center to provide recommendations, technical assistance, and other resources related to the provision of sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. The bill also authorizes support for medical schools, nursing schools, and other educational institutions that offer obstetrics and gynecology training programs to expand the number of individuals with disabilities entering the reproductive health care workforce. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must study the effectiveness and other aspects of reproductive health care services and programs for individuals with disabilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with disabilities needing sexual and reproductive health services
Estimated Size: 61000000
- The bill directly targets individuals with disabilities by improving access to sexual and reproductive health care services.
- Globally, about 1 billion people have some form of disability, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Not all individuals with disabilities will require reproductive health services, but the systems put in place by the bill could indirectly benefit all through education and broader access.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a specific demographic: individuals with disabilities in the U.S., of which there are approximately 61 million adults. Within this group, only a subset will be directly impacted based on their need for reproductive health services.
- Training and resources will primarily impact healthcare providers and educators, with indirect effects benefiting the broader community of people with disabilities through increased accessibility and informed support networks.
- The 10 interviews will represent a range of individuals, such as those directly requiring reproductive services, healthcare providers, educators, and individuals not directly impacted to understand the overall sentiment and potential reach of the policy.
- The budget constraints of $500 million in year 1 and $4.645 billion over 10 years suggest extensive, though not unlimited, resources to train and educate providers, and facilitate access to services, demonstrating a robust effort to improve the current state of reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities.
Simulated Interviews
Artist (New York, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can bring significant change. I've faced challenges when seeking reproductive health services due to lack of understanding from providers about disabilities.
- Educating healthcare providers is crucial, and I believe this policy will make accessing these services easier and less stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
General Practitioner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training programs for healthcare providers will be immensely helpful. Currently, we lack sufficient guidelines for treating disabled individuals' reproductive health needs effectively.
- This initiative could standardize care across practices, leading to better outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nursing Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about the opportunities this policy offers for disabled individuals to enter the reproductive health workforce.
- It shows an understanding of the valuable perspectives that disabled healthcare workers can bring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 4 |
Retired Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The national center could provide crucial resources for people like my children, even though I'm not directly impacted.
- Improving community knowledge can shift perceptions and reduce stigma around reproductive health for disabled individuals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (Houston, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've often found healthcare providers lack understanding of my reproductive needs.
- This policy could bridge that gap, making personal health decisions less daunting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Obstetrics Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training workshops could improve our department's competency in handling cases involving disabilities, leading to better patient care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Disability Rights Lawyer (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step toward equality in healthcare. It could serve as a model for other areas of health care reform.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Health Administrator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could transform how care is provided, particularly through the recommended guidelines and educational impact.
- I'm optimistic but cautious about execution and longevity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Fitness Trainer (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though I haven't sought reproductive health services recently, having healthcare that understands disabilities better is always a plus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
College Professor (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could spur significant change not only in healthcare but also in discussing reproductive rights for disabled individuals in educational circles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $650000000)
Year 2: $480000000 (Low: $330000000, High: $630000000)
Year 3: $470000000 (Low: $320000000, High: $620000000)
Year 5: $460000000 (Low: $310000000, High: $610000000)
Year 10: $450000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $600000000)
Year 100: $450000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- The exact number of healthcare providers requiring training is uncertain and can substantially affect costs.
- Impact on universities and educational centers will depend on the scale of the program and how many institutions participate.
- There may be legislative and implementation challenges in coordinating between different agencies and institutions.