Res. No. 1921 Title Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to adopt A. 2006, which would enhance health coverage for women. Body By Council Members Eldridge and Moskowitz; also Council Members Eisland, Henry, Koslowitz, Leffler, Lopez, Marshall, Michels, Nelson, O'Donovan, Perkins, Pinkett, Reed, Watkins and Quinn Whereas, Many health insurance companies offer coverage that does not include certain health procedures and services considered vital in helping women maintain good health; and Whereas, Among such procedures are bone density measurement, mammograms for women in certain age groups, and cervical cytological screening; and Whereas, Such simple diagnostic procedures very often save lives; and Whereas, Many health insurance companies also do not offer coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices and other obstetrical and gynecological services; and Whereas, Some health insurance companies provide medical coverage for many procedures deemed important to the health and safety of men, such as prostate cancer screening, and also offer prescription coverage for some medications for men, such as Viagra, yet limit coverage for similarly important procedures and medications for women; and Whereas, Both houses of the New York State Legislature have adopted separate pieces of legislation seeking to address these deficiencies; and Whereas, The respective pieces of legislation are similar but for two significant provisions; and Whereas, The version adopted by the Senate (S.3) includes co-payments and other deductible requirements for certain procedures and medications deemed important in preserving the good health of women, while the version adopted by the Assembly (A.2006) does not contain such requirements; and Whereas, While some statistics indicate that such co-payments and deductible requirements will affect only a small percentage of New York's population, other statistics indicate that such requirements could affect hundreds of thousands of New York women; and Whereas, S.3 also includes a "conscience clause", which would allow religiously affiliated employers and other employers claiming connection to a religious entity to make a determination as to whether or not their female employees receive contraceptive coverage; and Whereas, A.2006 does not contain such a "exclusion clause"; and Whereas, The inconsistencies between the two bills are cause for great concern among many New Yorkers, who feel that A.2006 provides significantly stronger health coverage for women than S.3; and Whereas, A. 2006 was overwhelmingly adopted by the Assembly on January 29, 2001 by a vote of 133-8; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to adopt A. 2006, which would enhance health coverage for women. DF LS# 4288 5/17/01