In related news, Congresswoman Susan Davis reports:

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VII. WOMAN ACT

Earlier this month, I reintroduced the Women's Obstetrician and Gynecologist Medical Access Now (WOMAN) Act, H.R. 2937. This bill will ensure that every woman has direct access to her ob-gyn.

I believe women should not need a permission slip to receive ob-gyn care. Unfortunately, that is the reality faced by many women when they need to see their doctor. Numerous managed care plans require women to visit their primary care physicians before seeking the health care services they need from the providers they want.

While serving in the California State Assembly, I heard from many women who experienced these problems. After meeting with women, health providers, and health plan representatives, I wrote the state law allowing women direct access to their ob-gyn. That law was a good first step; however, it still does not cover women enrolled in self-insured, federally regulated health plans. This means that even if a woman lives in a state with direct access protections, like California, she may not be able to see her ob-gyn without a referral if she is covered by a federally regulated ERISA health plan. I believe the time has come to make direct access to an ob-gyn a national standard. "