March 20, 2017: DCPCA Testimony- Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Amendment Act of 2017

Good morning Chairman Gray and distinguished members of the Committee. My name is Patricia Quinn and I am the Director of Policy and External Affairs for the DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA). DCPCA represents community health centers and FQHCs who serve nearly 1 in 3 District residents in every ward of the District. DCPCA works to build a healthier DC by strengthening safety net community based primary care. I want to begin by thanking you and the members of the Health Committee for your deep engagement thus far in the work of the District’s health care system.  We are here today to provide testimony in support of B22-0106, also known as the Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Amendment Act of 2017.

DCPCA strongly supports the “Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Amendment Act of 2017”. We feel that although it echoes the Affordable Care Act, it also emphasizes the importance of the protections to women’s health. This helps to rightly place the focus of the DC Council, carriers and consumers on the issue of access to care which has historically been core to this committee and the District as a whole.

Covered Services: DCPCA as well as District leadership have agreed over the years that health care is a right so, it is appropriate that we define what that means. Providing local protections for preventative primary care services, screenings, counseling as well as contraception services for women is a good start to this process.

Recommendation: The Committee on Health should not only approve B22-0106, it should revisit the protections of the Affordable care act and as they align with the values of the District and its commitment to make high quality health care the standard in the District, those protections should be adopted into local statue to ensure that District residents can continue on their path to wellness.

In closing, DCPCA believes that we are at the beginning of our collective fight for health equity for Medicaid beneficiaries and others in need of safety net care. We are fully committed to expand capacity for all partners to function as a seamless accountable health community over time and across sites of care through increased cross-sector collaboration, clinical practice transformation, expanded HIT capacity and HIE connectivity, and responsive and supportive patient engagement.  In DHCF, we are fortunate and grateful to have a partner that shares that vision.