III

104TH CONGRESS

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
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•SRES 85 IS

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;
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•SRES 85 IS

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 obstetriciangynecologists 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

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—

2 (1) obstetrician-gynecologists should be included

3 as primary care providers for women in Federal laws

4 relating to the provision of health care; and

5 (2) legislative proposals that define primary

6 care should include primary care services performed

7 by obstetrician-gynecologists in such definition.

Æ