IV
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 30
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that obstetrician-gyne-
cologists should be designated as primary care providers for women
in Federal laws relating to the provision of health care.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 5, 1995
Mr. COMBEST (for himself, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut,
Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr.
BOUCHER, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. STUMP,
Mr. WYDEN, Mr. PORTER, Mr. BUNNING of Kentucky, and Mr. PICKETT)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Commerce
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
obstetrician-gynecologists should be designated as pri-
mary care providers for women in Federal laws relating
to the provision of health care.
Whereas women constitute more than 50 percent of the popu-
lation of the United States;
Whereas, because women’s health historically has received lit-
tle 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;
•HRES 30 IH
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 a majority of women view their obstetrician-gyne-
cologist as their primary or sole physician;
Whereas approximately 70 percent of women would be unwill-
ing 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 preven-
tive health care throughout the woman’s lifetime, encom-
passing 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 obstetri-
cian-gynecologist includes instruction in breast self-exam-
ination, cervical cancer screening, health education, in-
struction in health promotion, hypertension and cardio-
vascular surveillance, osteoporosis counseling, sexually
transmitted diseases counseling, and identification of vic-
tims of domestic violence;
Whereas the most effective ways to treat a health problem
are to prevent it from occurring or to catch it in the early
stages, when it is most treatable;
Whereas 60 percent of all office visits to obstetricians-gyne-
cologists 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 refer-
rals;
•HRES 30 IH
Whereas more than two-thirds of all visits to obstetrician-
gynecologists were by established patients of the physi-
cian 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 pro-
vide such health care services to women;
Whereas the 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 House of Represent-
atives that—
(1) obstetrician-gynecologists should be designated
as primary care providers for women in Federal laws re-
lating to the provision of health care; and
(2) legislative proposals that define primary care
should include services performed by obstetrician-gyne-
cologists in such definition.
Æ