Public Advocate's Corner

Stripping the Stupak Amendment

Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, activist Gloria Steinem, and other distinguished women leaders to protest the Stupak amendment to the House health reform bill. Gotbaum spoke out against the amendment last week, and today she reiterated her criticism and voiced a call to action:

Last weekend, congressional leaders and representatives voted for a bill that would regulate the insurance companies, give health insurance to 36 million Americans, and create an affordable public insurance option for Americans without coverage.

But because of one amendment attached to the bill, they had to compromise while casting this historic vote. The Stupak amendment is a gross insult to women, advocates for choice, and voters who have supported these representatives year after year.

Pass Health Reform, But Not Like This

On Saturday, the House of Representatives passed a landmark health care reform bill, 220-215, shifting focus to the Senate. If not for one amendment, such news would call for celebration. Unfortunately, the bill includes an amendment that would set strict, unprecedented restrictions on coverage for abortions under insurance subsidized by the federal government—affecting millions of American women who purchase plans that cover abortions. As a fierce advocate for women’s issues and a defender of a woman’s right to choose, I strongly condemn this amendment and urge the Senate to pass a bill without it.

New Yorkers, I encourage you to contact your senators and representatives, and ask that they demand a health care bill which protects a woman’s right to choose.

 

National Mammography Day

Today, Friday, Oct. 16, is National Mammography Day, and St. Vincent’s Hospital is offering free mammography screenings until 4 p.m. at its comprehensive cancer center at 325 W. 15th, in Manhattan. The hospital invites uninsured and underinsured women 40 and older to participate, along with women 35 and older who have a family history of breast cancer. They must not have had a mammogram for at least 12 months. For an appointment, call 1-888-44-CANCER.

 

I'm a longtime advocate of improving New York women's access to health care, including free and low-cost mammograms. Among other things, I pushed for a new Staten Island mammogram clinic. My staff also conducted a study that found that women who seek free or low-cost mammography screenings offered by the city Health and Hospitals Corporation are subject to longer than targeted waiting periods.

 

Leveling the Playing Field for Minority- and Women-owned Businesses

Comptroller Thompson’s audit shines light on a problem that has plagued this administration for eight years. Women and minorities deserve every opportunity to compete for city contracts—-but, as my office found in 2007, a program designed to level the playing field has failed to do so. Of $11.2 billion in goods and services procured by the city in 2006, only $55 million went to certified women and minority businesses. Today’s audit shows that the city still falls short. Small Business Services (SBS) must do more to monitor whether city agencies are actually including M/WBEs in the procurement process.

More From Race for the Cure

Check out some more pictures of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum at the 2009 Komen NYC Race for the Cure:

(Pictured above, from left: Gabrielle Union, Cyndi Lauper, Public Advocate Gotbaum)

Supporting Women's Health at Race for the Cure

On Sunday, I attended the 2009 Komen NYC Race for the Cure, which is raising money to support 'community-based organizations providing life-saving breast health, education, screening and treatment to people in New York City, Long Island, Rockland and Westchester Counties.' At the kick-off event, I spoke with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (pictured above); singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper; Mayor Bloomberg and others.

As always, I urge New York women to make an appointment for an annual physical checkup. Current studies suggest that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The older the woman, the greater the risk: women under forty should schedule a clinical breast exam every three years; women older than forty should have one every year and augment with an annual screening mammogram. Anyone at risk because of family history may need to be tested more frequently.

On Sunday, I attended the 2009 Komen NYC Race for the Cure, which is raising money to support 'community-based organizations providing life-saving breast health, education, screening and treatment to people in New York City, Long Island, Rockland and Westchester Counties.' At the kick-off event, I spoke with Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (pictured above); singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper; Mayor Bloomberg and others.

As always, I urge New York women to make an appointment for an annual physical checkup. Current studies suggest that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The older the woman, the greater the risk: women under forty should schedule a clinical breast exam every three years; women older than forty should have one every year and augment with an annual screening mammogram. Anyone at risk because of family history may need to be tested more frequently.

Helping Women Find Stable Jobs

The Jennie A. Clarke Residence, a Department of Homeless Services (DHS) facility operated by Women In Need, Inc. (WIN), provides housing, job training, and other services to women who are homeless and disadvantaged. WIN offers the tools and guidance that allow families to return to their communities and live independently.

Recently, the Public Advocate's office learned that clients at the Jennie A. Clarke Residence would be better able to keep track of job-related appointments if they owned calendars. Today, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum visited the Residence to donate 100 calendars and learn more about the facility's needs.

(Top: PA Gotbaum speaks with Mary Beth Gonzalez, Program Director at the Residence, and associate; Right: Gonzalez accepts calendars from Gotbaum)

Statement from Public Advocate Gotbaum on Murder of Dr. George Tiller

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said:

"I am deeply troubled and saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. For two decades he protected a woman's right to choose. He has done this while providing medical and reproductive health care to women in need under extremely difficult conditions due to harassment and threats to his personal safety. I hope that greater protection will be ensured both for medical professionals who provide abortions, and for the women who seek them. My heart goes out to Dr. Tiller’s family."

Accessing Services: How to Get a Mammogram

This month is a great time for women to make an appointment for an annual mammogram.  It's also a great time to strongly encourage your mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters or any other women in your life to do the same.

More than 40,000 women die of breast cancer in the United States each year, and more than 90% of all breast cancer is detect by a mammogram.

And early detection, of course, leads to early treatment.

In 2006, the Public Advocate’s office released a report showing that the average wait time for mammograms in the city was 10 days longer than the mayor’s target wait time.

What is a Mammogram? Simply stated, a mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast. A diagnostic mammogram may detect breast disease in women who have breast lumps, pain, discharge or abnormalities. A screening mammogram detects changes, if any, in the breasts of women who have no breast complaints. For a video on mammogram for breast cancer detection, check out the Mayo Clinic website.

How can I access a low-cost mammogram? The city Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) offers mammograms to New Yorkers all over the city at little or no cost. Also, qualified uninsured persons may receive mammograms year-round through the state Department of Health (DOH) Breast Cancer Program. Find out more information about mammography in New York City here.

Women should talk to their healthcare providers about getting a mammogram along with their annual breast-exam and pap smear. To find a federally qualified health center that offers low or no cost annual checkups visit: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

More Resources: The Breast Examination Center of Harlem, an outreach program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, offers free mammograms. You can also find free mammography programs from other providers offered in conjunction with Mother's Day. At other times, mobile mammography clinics visit under served neighborhoods.

If you still need help in arranging for a free or low-cost mammogram, please call my office at 212-669-7250.

This month is a great time for women to make an appointment for an annual mammogram.  It's also a great time to strongly encourage your mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters or any other women in your life to do the same.

More than 40,000 women die of breast cancer in the United States each year, and more than 90% of all breast cancer is detect by a mammogram.

And early detection, of course, leads to early treatment.

In 2006, the Public Advocate’s office released a report showing that the average wait time for mammograms in the city was 10 days longer than the mayor’s target wait time.

What is a Mammogram? Simply stated, a mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast. A diagnostic mammogram may detect breast disease in women who have breast lumps, pain, discharge or abnormalities. A screening mammogram detects changes, if any, in the breasts of women who have no breast complaints. For a video on mammogram for breast cancer detection, check out the Mayo Clinic website.

How can I access a low-cost mammogram? The city Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) offers mammograms to New Yorkers all over the city at little or no cost. Also, qualified uninsured persons may receive mammograms year-round through the state Department of Health (DOH) Breast Cancer Program. Find out more information about mammography in New York City here.

Women should talk to their healthcare providers about getting a mammogram along with their annual breast-exam and pap smear. To find a federally qualified health center that offers low or no cost annual checkups visit: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

More Resources: The Breast Examination Center of Harlem, an outreach program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, offers free mammograms. You can also find free mammography programs from other providers offered in conjunction with Mother's Day. At other times, mobile mammography clinics visit under served neighborhoods.

If you still need help in arranging for a free or low-cost mammogram, please call my office at 212-669-7250.

National Women's Health Week: Get Your Annual Checkup

This week is National Women’s Health Week. It’s the time when we remind women to exercise regularly, maintain a healthy diet, avoid smoking, and schedule an annual physical checkup. Women should ask a doctor about screenings for heart disease, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases and breast cancer.

Current studies suggest that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. The older the woman, the greater the risk: women under forty should schedule a clinical breast exam every three years; women older than forty should have one every year and augment with an annual screening mammogram. Anyone at risk because of family history may need to be tested more frequently.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum urges all New York women to mark this year’s National Women’s Health Week by making an appointment today for an annual physical checkup.