[THIS IS THE PERIODIC BRIEFING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROMOTING ITS PLAN. THIS ITEM WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT LINE (WITH DIFFERENT DATES) SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP IT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ IT. -- Steve Freedkin , LIST.HEALTHPLAN Administrator] The White House Health Care Reform Today March 9, 1994 The Older Women's League endorsed President Clinton's health reform bill this week, and the Campaign for Women's Health, a coalition of over ninety national, state and grassroots organizations representing over 8 million women, released a statement indicating their support for the President's approach. They said:"In reviewing the current health proposals pending in Congress, only two proposals, the Health Security Act, proposed by President Clinton and introduced by Senator Mitchell and Representative Gephardt, and the American Health Security Act, introduced by Senator Wellstone and Representative McDermott, demonstrate a significant commitment to the principles developed by the Campaign for Women's Health. These plans offer unprecedented opportunities to provide coverage of health care services for women far beyond what is currently available." Campaign for Women's Health, March 1994 One reason these groups are supportive is because the President's approach addresses women's health -- and the threat of breast cancer -- aggressively and comprehensively, guaranteeing all women coverage, regardless of whether they are healthy or sick, married or single, working or unemployed, wealthy or low income. And the President's approach will provide unprecedented coverage of preventive care, including mammography. It will cover a whole schedule of preventive screenings, tests and check-ups at no cost, protection available in only a few of today's insurance policies. Women of any age can receive clinical breast exams and mammograms at any time when the patient and doctor feel it is medically necessary or appropriate, and will pay a standard co-pay (for example, ten dollars) set by their plan. Women of any age who are defined to be at risk of breast cancer will receive additional visits, including clinical breast exams and mammograms, with no cost sharing. For certain age groups, at certain intervals, mammograms are free of any cost sharing, so there is no charge when a woman goes to the doctor for these services. As part of the preventive services package, all women age 50 and older would have routine mammogram screening every other year, free of charge. Again, any woman who needs more frequent mammograms would be covered, and would pay a co-pay.