[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29527-29528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12222]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2012 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 29527]]


                Proclamation 8820 of May 14, 2012

                
National Women's Health Week, 2012

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Women have guided our country toward prosperity and 
                progress, and our Nation's success depends on their 
                well-being. While women often play a leading role in 
                making medical decisions for their families, their own 
                health care needs have too often gone unmet. During 
                National Women's Health Week, we recommit to making 
                health care more accessible and affordable for women 
                across our country.

                As President, I have made advancing gender equality in 
                health care a top priority. Through the historic 
                Affordable Care Act, we are reversing many of the worst 
                abuses of the health insurance industry. Beginning in 
                2014, many insurers will no longer be allowed to charge 
                women higher premiums simply because of their gender, 
                and it will be illegal for most insurance companies to 
                deny coverage to women because they have a pre-existing 
                condition, including cancer or pregnancy. Health plans 
                will also be required to cover maternity care. The law 
                already enables women in new insurance plans to see any 
                primary care provider or OB-GYN, or bring their 
                children to any pediatrician in their health plan's 
                network without a referral, and it prevents most 
                insurance companies from denying coverage to children 
                with pre-existing conditions.

                My Administration has fought to make preventive care 
                accessible to all. Under the Affordable Care Act, we 
                eliminated out-of-pocket costs for recommended 
                preventive services such as mammograms, cervical cancer 
                screenings, contraception, and well-woman visits under 
                most plans. In 2011 alone, more than 20 million women 
                received expanded access to these services at no 
                additional cost.

                National Women's Health Week presents an opportunity 
                for all women to prioritize their well-being by 
                scheduling annual check-ups and screenings. To find 
                more information on women's preventive care, visit 
                www.WomensHealth.gov or www.GirlsHealth.gov.

                As we celebrate the progress we have made, we recognize 
                that American families cannot afford a return to the 
                days when women were over-charged and denied access to 
                critical services. During National Women's Health Week, 
                let us move forward in pursuit of a fairer, healthier 
                America.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 13 through May 
                19, 2012, as National Women's Health Week. I encourage 
                all Americans to celebrate the progress we have made in 
                protecting women's health and to promote awareness, 
                prevention, and educational activities that improve the 
                health of all women.

[[Page 29528]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth. 
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2012-12222
Filed 5-17-12; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F2-P