GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1761*

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Sponsors: Representatives Gardner, Howard, Morris; Adams, Alexander, Baker, Bowie, Esposito, Insko, Jarrell, Luebke, McAllister, Miller, Preston, Russell, Sherrill, Sossamon, Wainwright, Walend, and Weiss.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

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May 25, 2000

A HOUSE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A WOMEN'S HEALTH PLATFORM TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, State Government can improve its support for women's health issues and can make a significant difference in improving the status of women's health; and
Whereas, women are different, metabolically, hormonally, and physiologically from men and have different patterns of health and disease, and some diseases are more common in women than in men; and
Whereas, women are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases with more than one in five women having some form of cardiovascular disease and one in two women having an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime; and
Whereas, women are three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and two to three times more likely to suffer from depression; and
Whereas, women are less often referred for diagnostic tests and less often treated for heart disease as compared to men; and
Whereas, women smokers are 20 to 70 percent more likely to develop lung cancer; and
Whereas, women outnumber men three to one in long-term care facilities; and
Whereas, women are much more likely to provide health care to family members and make health care decisions and spend two of every three health care dollars; and
Whereas, there is abundant evidence that women are undertreated and are underrepresented in women's health studies; and
Whereas, although there has been some national attention on women's health care issues, and some legislative activity by Congress on access issues, there remains little change in vitally important preventive care and treatment issues; and
Whereas, in a recent survey of voters, almost 80% of women and 60% of men favored a Women's Health Care Platform which supports relevant care, relevant research, and relevant education for women; and
Whereas, nine out of 10 men and women agree that women have the right to access high quality treatment and to access the latest technologies and appropriate diagnostic tests; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
Section 1.  It is the sense of the House of Representatives that every State agency and State-chartered institution of learning or recipient of State grants or funding will take appropriate action to achieve improved and equal access for women to quality health care, including:
(1)	Provide women equal access to quality health care.
(2)	Increase the number of women covered by comprehensive health care insurance including primary and preventive health care for all women.
(3)	Prevent serious health problems by timely diagnosis and treatment programs.
(4)	Promote strategies to increase patient access to recommended diagnostic and screening tests, preventive health regimens, and recommended treatments.
(5)	Encourage unimpeded access to women's specialty health providers.
(6)	Create and promote public/private partnerships to create programs designed to improve the scope and quality of women's health care.
(7)	Improve communication between providers and patients.
(8)	Continue to expand participation of women in clinical trials.
(9)	Increase government and private research on women's health issues and the differences between men and women and how they impact quality health care.
(10)	Conduct more health outcomes research to demonstrate the value of women's health care interventions and preventive health measures in both the long and short term.
(11)	Expand medical and nursing school curricula in the area of women's health and educate about gender biology.
(12)	Support public education campaigns to increase women's awareness about their unique health risks and how to negotiate the complexities of today's health care system and obtain the best care available.
(13)	Conduct public health campaigns via State and local departments of public health with private sector partners to focus on key women's preventive health issues.
(14)	Foster development and dissemination of publicly available information on the quality of health care and health outcomes that improve women's ability to choose the best women's health care plan.
Section 2.  The House of Representatives commends the Women in Government organization for its leadership and enterprise in bringing to North Carolina the appropriate urgency of need and meaningful steps that can be taken to attain the improved and equal access for women to quality health care, technologies and treatments, education of researchers about gender differences, and unimpeded access to women's health providers.
Section 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.