Contraception News and Research

Latest Contraception News and Research

Viewpoints: GOP attack on Medicare, Medicaid could hurt critical programs; Will says Obama is repeating his overreach on health care

Congressional Republicans are insisting that big cuts to Medicare and Medicaid be on the table in the negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff and deficit reduction. That stance is largely a political move against two programs, which have been critical to the public welfare for the past half-century.

30 Nov 2012

Politico examines lawsuits against contraception policy; Ariz.'s Brewer wants more details on exchanges

Many suits have been filed against the Obama administration's policy to require most employers to cover contraception in health plans under the health law. At the same time, there are still many questions about the exchanges that are also part of the law.

29 Nov 2012

Health law implementation proceeds -- with fits and starts

Even as the election has altered the landscape for lawmakers who hoped to repeal the 2010 health law, some opponents are pressing on with legal challenges. Specific elements of the law, such as its health exchanges, also present logistical and financial issues for the Obama administration.

27 Nov 2012

Pediatricians called to prescribe 'morning-after' pills in advance

Wading into the incendiary subject of birth control for young teenagers, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Monday called on the nation's pediatricians to counsel all of their adolescent patients about emergency contraception and make advance prescriptions for it available to girls under 17.

26 Nov 2012

Federal judge grants temporary injunction in Bible publisher's contraception rule challenge

In separate action, another judge ruled against Hobby Lobby's effort to be exempted from the contraception mandate.

21 Nov 2012

IUD insertion does not increase risk of pelvic inflammatory disease in women

The risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) following insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) is very low, whether or not women have been screened beforehand for gonorrhea and chlamydia, according to a joint study of nearly 60,000 women by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research.

21 Nov 2012

Romney says loss the result of Obama's 'gifts' to minority voters, women and young people

Certain provisions of the 2010 health law were the key "gifts" GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said were to blame for his loss. Other Republican leaders, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal fiercely rebuffed Romney's comments.

16 Nov 2012

UNFPA calls family planning an 'essential human right,' says meeting unmet need could save more than $11B annually

In its annual State of the World Population 2012 report, the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday "called family planning an 'essential human right' and urged the world's nations to help meet the needs of 222 million women in developing countries," The Hill's "Global Affairs" blog reports.

16 Nov 2012

First Edition: November 15, 2012

Today's headlines include the latest details on states' decisions about pursuing health exchanges as well as other political and policy developments.

15 Nov 2012

U.S. bishops promise to continue fight against health law's birth control mandate

Cardinal Dolan, the nation's top bishop, made clear that the Roman Catholic church will not comply with the Obama administration requirement regarding contraception coverage and will continue to fight it.

15 Nov 2012

Dems, GOP assess campaign shortcomings

Stories look at what went wrong for both parties in this week's elections: how comments about rape by two Republican Senate candidates fed a GOP gender gap, and how Democrats' offensive against a Republican plan to overhaul Medicare fell flat.

9 Nov 2012

Republicans consider old, new ways to hinder health law implementation

Some Republicans and religious leaders are following through with challenges to the law's contraception coverage mandate, looking for ways to repeal a Medicare cost-cutting board and trying further to delay implementation.

9 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Newspapers opine on Obama's health care, fiscal challenges

President Obama's dramatic re-election victory was not a sign that a fractured nation had finally come together on Election Day. But it was a strong endorsement of economic policies that stress job growth, health care reform, tax increases and balanced deficit reduction -; and of moderate policies on immigration, abortion and same-sex marriage. ... Republicans had to be disappointed in the results of their unrelenting assault on Mr. Obama's health care reform law.

8 Nov 2012

Federal appeals court begins hearing arguments on Ariz. abortion restrictions

A federal appeals court began hearing arguments Monday challenging Arizona's ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy -- sharply questioning lawyers arguing the case.

7 Nov 2012

Both candidates use abortion issue to turn out their base

NPR takes a long look at how both candidates have put abortion "front and center," while the Los Angeles Times describes how the issue is galvanizing Catholic and evangelical Protestant voters in the swing state of Ohio. And then there are the robo-calls.

6 Nov 2012

With Election Day hours away, polls show deadlocked race

The last round of polls shows the contest between President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney virtually tied. Meanwhile, news outlets report on how health issues are motivating some voters and what policies the winner might put in place.

6 Nov 2012

Keep momentum going to pursue innovation in contraceptive options

"It has been a banner year for media attention, political will and global resources on family planning and women's and girls' rights and empowerment," Ward Cates, president emeritus of FHI 360; Laneta Dorflinger, a scientist with FHI 360; and Kirsten Vogelsong, a senior program officer with the family planning division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, write in the Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" blog, noting the London Summit on Family Planning, World Contraception Day, and the inaugural International Day of the Girl Child.

6 Nov 2012

First Edition: November 5, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the final round of polls, forecasts regarding which party will control the House and Senate and analysis of how campaign-trail messages have been playing during the election season's final hours.

5 Nov 2012

Companies, college challenging health law's contraception coverage mandate

One Michigan company won an injunction from a district court judge, as another company and a Texas college file lawsuits.

3 Nov 2012

Abortion, health law drive messaging in tight Senate and House races

The state Democratic Party runs a "coordinated campaign" to augment the Obama team's efforts and promote Mr. Kaine and other Democratic candidates, with hubs in Alexandria, a Washington suburb; Richmond, the capital; the Hampton Roads area, a military center; and Charlottesville, a student bastion.

3 Nov 2012