[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 85 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  1st Session
S. RES. 85

  To express the sense of the Senate that obstetrician-gynecologists 
should be included as primary care providers for women in Federal laws 
               relating to the provision of health care.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                March 8 (legislative day, March 6), 1995

    Mr. Chafee (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bryan, Mr. 
  Hollings, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
  Akaka, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Simon, Mr. Stevens, Mr. 
  Murkowski, Mr. Kempthorne, Mr. Lott, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. 
McCain, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Burns, Mr. Baucus, 
 Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Levin, Mr. Leahy, 
Mr. Brown, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Sarbanes, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
    Grassley, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Robb, and Mr. Craig) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Labor and 
                            Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  To express the sense of the Senate that obstetrician-gynecologists 
should be included as primary care providers for women in Federal laws 
               relating to the provision of health care.

Whereas women constitute more than 50 percent of the population of the United 
        States;
Whereas, because women's health historically has received little attention in 
        terms of Federal funding and in terms of research priorities, there 
        should be an increased emphasis on the needs and preferences of women in 
        such areas;
Whereas the Federal Government should increase its support for women's health 
        and can make a significant difference in improving the status of women's 
        health;
Whereas increased funding for research is insignificant if women's health care 
        services are restricted;
Whereas many women view their obstetrician-gynecologist as their primary or sole 
        physician;
Whereas approximately 70 percent of women would be unwilling to change their 
        obstetrician-gynecologist to save money;
Whereas an obstetrician-gynecologist improves the access to health care of a 
        woman by providing primary and preventive health care throughout the 
        woman's lifetime, encompassing care of the whole patient in addition to 
        focusing on the processes of the female reproductive system;
Whereas preventive and primary care provided by an obstetrician-gynecologist 
        includes instruction in breast self-examination, cervical cancer 
        screening, health education, instruction in health promotion, 
        hypertension and cardiovascular surveillance, osteoporosis counseling, 
        sexually transmitted diseases counseling, and identification of victims 
        of domestic violence;
Whereas the most effective way to treat health problems is to prevent such 
        problems from occurring or to catch such problems in the early stages, 
        when such problems are most treatable;
Whereas 60 percent of all office visits to obstetrician-gynecologists are for 
        preventive care;
Whereas obstetrician-gynecologists refer their patients to other physicians less 
        frequently than other primary care providers, thus avoiding costly and 
        time-consuming referrals;
Whereas more than two-thirds of all visits to obstetrician-gynecologists were by 
        established patients of the physician who were returning for care of a 
        medical condition;
Whereas obstetrician-gynecologists manage the health of women beyond the 
        reproductive system, and are uniquely qualified on the basis of 
        education and experience to provide such health care services to women;
Whereas obstetrician-gynecologists provide health care to women with an 
        awareness of the relationship of disease to family history;
Whereas over two-thirds of general family practice physicians do not deliver 
        newborns and will not be able to address this need of women; and
Whereas 80 percent of maternity care services in the United States are provided 
        by obstetrician-gynecologists: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) obstetrician-gynecologists should be included as 
        primary care providers for women in Federal laws relating to 
        the provision of health care; and
            (2) legislative proposals that define primary care should 
        include primary care services performed by obstetrician-
        gynecologists in such definition.
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