ACP calls for policies that better support women and their families and improve health outcomes

A new position paper from the American College of Physicians (ACP) examines the unique challenges women face within the U.S. health care system and calls for policies to better support them. The paper addresses a wide range of issues, such as support for paid family and medical leave, recommendations on policies to reduce domestic violence, sexual abuse and harassment, and participation in clinical trials. The paper also addresses access to coverage, including coverage for medically necessary reproductive services, and opposition to policies that would create barriers to their access to reproductive health services.

The paper, "Women's Health Policy," is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

ACP urges policymakers to strongly consider how to better integrate women's health needs over the course of their lifetime. Ensuring that women have access to non-discriminatory health care coverage is essential to improving the overall health and well-being of women living in the U.S., and a longstanding goal of ACP.

This paper was developed by ACP's Health and Public Policy Committee, which addresses issues that affect the health care of the American public and the practice of internal medicine and its subspecialties. ACP's evidence-based public policy positions are based on reviewed literature and input from the ACP's Board of Governors, Board of Regents, additional ACP councils, and nonmember experts in the field.