Preventive Services for Women and Families

Preventive Services for Women and Families

HI. I'M JENNY BACKUS, ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS HERE AT HHS, AND WELCOME TO OUR WEBCHAT ON HEALTHCARE AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THE NEW LAW IS DESIGNED TO PUT YOU IN CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTHCARE, PROTECTING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM INSURANCE COMPANY ABUSES, AND GIVE YOU ACCESS TO THE CARE YOU NEED TO STAY HEALTHY AND AVOID GETTING SICK. 

THIS MEANS GOOD NEWS ON THE HORIZON FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING IMPROVED ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. JOINING US TODAY TO TELL US MORE ARE… SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS OF THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. DONNA NORTON, NATIONAL CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR AT MOMS-RISING. AND ACTRESS AND WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVOCATE, FRAN DRESCHER, WHOSE 2002 AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVE CANCER SCHMANCER LAUNCHED A MOVEMENT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH AWARENESS. WITH YOU. 

YOU JOINED THE FIRST LADY AND I HAVE NOW LEARNED THE SECOND LADY TO TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT BENEFITS COMING UP IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHEN IT COMES TO PREVENTION. CAN YOU GIVE US A SUMMARY TO START US OFF? HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS PART OF THE NEW LAW, THAT I KNOW FRAN HAS BEEN WORKING ON IN HER EFFORTS TO PROPOSAL MOTE WOMEN AS GOOD -- PROMOTE WOMEN AS GOOD HEALTH CONSUMERS, AND LOOK AT 2 PREVENTION, AND DONNA'S GROUP IS VERY INTERESTED IN HAS TO DO WITH PREVENTIVE CARE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHANGES IN THE LAW. NEW INSURANCE PLANS WILL HAVE TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR ALL KINDS OF PREVENTIVE SERVICES WITHOUT COPAYS OR DEDUCTIBLES. 

EVERYTHING FROM CHILDREN'S IMMUNIZATIONS TO MAMMOGRAMS, AND COLON CANCER SCREENING. WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A FIRM HURDLE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS PREVENTIVE CARE. MEDICARE WILL BEGIN TO HAVE YEARLY CHECKUPS AVAILABLE TO ALL BENEFICIARIES, AND HAS NO LONGER COPAYS RELATED TO THE KINDS OF PREVENTION SCREENINGS THAT WE THINK ARE SO IMPORTANT AND MEDICAID WILL ALSO FOLLOW THOSE RULES. IT'S A BRAND NEW DAY. INTERVENING EARLY IS MUCH BETTER THAN TREATING PEOPLE BEFORE THEY GET SICK. -- I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THESE BENEFITS ARE COMING SO EARLY. 

DONNA AND FRAN, YOU BOTH RUN ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE WORLD'S GREATEST NAMES. DONNA, WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE NEW BENEFITS? ORGANIZATION. WE STARTED IN 2006. WE HAVE OVER A MILLION MEMBERS NOW, MOMS, DADS, CAREGIVERS IN EVERY STATE INCLUDING KANSAS. AND WE SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HELP FAMILIES AND THE U.S. ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SECURITY AND PROVIDE EVERY CHILD WITH A HEALTHY START. EVERY DAY MOMS RISING MEMBERS ARE OUT THERE ORGANIZING AND SPEAKING OUT ON BEHALF OF OUR 3 NATION'S FAMILIES. 

WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM MOMS RISING MEMBERS TODAY. ALL ABOUT? YOU SAID IT RIGHT. CANCER SCHMANCER.ORG. I'M A CANCER SURVIVER. I JUST CELEBRATED 10 YEARS OF WELLNESS. I WAS A SURVIVOR OF UTERINE CANCER. ONLY IT TOOK ME 2 YEARS AND 8 DOCTORS TO GET A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. I GOT IN TO STIRRUPS MORE TIME THAN ROY ROGERS. AS A CONSEQUENCE TO MY SURVIVAL, I FEEL LIKE I'VE TURNED PAIN INTO PURPOSE WHICH IS VERY HEALING. AND I REALIZED THAT -- I WROTE THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER CANCER SCHMANCER. WHEN I WENT ON MY BOOK TOUR I DIDN'T WANT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE. LATE STAGE DIAGNOSIS FOR SOME AS THE CONSEQUENCE OF MISDIAGNOSIS OR JUST NOT BEING EDUCATED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT THE EARLIER WARNING WHISPERS ARE. 

UNTIL THIS HEALTH POLICY PASSED I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN A NATION THAT'S BEEN MORE BACK END ORIENTED BECAUSE DRIVEN BY BIG BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE. AND RATHER THAN BEING MORE PREVENTIVE, LIVING MORE HELPFULLY, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE -- RECOGNIZING ILLNESS AND ITS EARLIEST AND MOST CURABLE STAGES. SO I STARTED THE CANCER SCHMANCER MOVEMENT. AND NOW I LOBBY IN WASHINGTON TRYING TO GET GOOD LAWS PASSED THAT PROTECT PEOPLE, 4 TRANSFORMING PATIENTS INTO MEDICAL CONSUMERS, WE HAVE FRAN VANS RIDING AROUND IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS TO CURRENTLY HELP WOMEN WHO ARE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED TO GET THAT MAMMOGRAM EARLY, GET THAT PAP TEST EARLY. AND THEN HELP THEM WITH THE FOLLOWUP CARE SHOULD THAT BE NECESSARY. 

AND THEN I WORK WITH THE FIRST LADY A LOT IN TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE IF WE CAN GET THE CHILDREN ON AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO EAT CORRECTLY, WHAT TOXINS ARE IN THEIR HOME, THEY CAN TELL THEIR MOM DON'T BUY THAT, WHAT THEY PUT ON THEIR SKIN. GETTING EXERCISE, LIVING MORE HEALTHY. THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION HOW SICK THEY ARE ONCE THEY BECOME ADULTS. -- THAT'S GREAT. I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY MOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO INTERESTED IN THIS. DONNA IS GOING TO TAKE OVER AND THROW SOME QUESTIONS TO OUR GUESTS FROM MOMS-RISING MEMBERS. DONNA. OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM KANSAS. AND SHE ASKS MY HUSBAND IS A FULL-TIME KANSAS FARMER. I WORK FULL-TIME. I HAVE GREAT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR MY FAMILY. 

MY HUSBAND'S AUNT AND UNCLE PAY VERY HIGH RATES FOR VERY LITTLE COVERAGE. WHEN THE COSTS GET TOO HIGH, THEY TRY TO FIND ANOTHER PROVIDER, ONLY TO HAVE ALL THEIR PRIOR HEALTH PROBLEMS EXCLUDED FROM COVERAGE. WILL THE NEW BILL HELP THEM AND 5 THE REST OF OUR FARMING COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY. WE MISS YOU HERE IN KANSAS BUT SUPPORT YOUR WORK IN WASHINGTON D.C. ALL MY FRIENDS IN KANSAS, HI TO ALL OF YOU. THE SITUATION IS PRETTY TYPICAL OF KANSAS AND LOTS OF COMMUNITIES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT FARM FAMILIES. LOTS OF FARM FAMILIES ARE IN THE CRUNCH WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. THEY'RE OFTEN LOCKED OUT OF INSURANCE BECAUSE OF HIGH PRICES. YES, THERE IS HELP ON THE WAY. BUT PREEXISTING INSURANCE POOLS UP AND RUNNING IN AUGUST MAY BE AN OPTION FOR THE AUNT AND UNCLE WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY BECAUSE OF HEALTH CONDITIONS AND DON'T HAVE THE COVERAGE THEY NEED. KANSAS WILL BE RUNNING THEIR OWN POOL. THEY'RE TAKING APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW. 

CONTACTING THE KANSAS INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND FINDING OUT ABOUT THAT OPTION. THAT'S A BRIDGE STRATEGY TO THE NEW MARKET. BY 2014 THERE WILL BE NEW HEALTH EXCHANGES IN EVERY STATE OF THE COUNTRY INCLUDING KANSAS WHERE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES WHO DIDN'T HAVE OPTIONS AND CHOICES RAILROAD COULDN'T AFFORD THE CHOICES OR GOT LOCK THE OUT BECAUSE OF HEALTH CONDITIONS WILL HAVE A NEW MARKET EXCHANGE WITH AT LEAST A COUPLE OF COMPANIES TO CHOOSE FROM, LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WILL HAVE SOME FINANCIAL HELP BUYING INSURANCE, 6 BUT THERE WILL BE A NEW MARKET FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS WHO CURRENTLY CAN'T FIND AFFORDABLE COVERAGE OR GET ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF A HEALTH CONDITION. -- I KNOW YOU'VE JUST CREATED THIS GREAT NEW WEBSITE, HEALTHCARE.GOV. IS THAT A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO NOW? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO ON THIS WEBSITE. IT'S SOMETHING WE THINK IS PRETTY SPECIAL. 

IT IS I'VE NEVER EXISTED BEFORE. SO HEALTHCARE.GOV, WHICH IS UP AND RUNNING, ASKS A FEW ENTRY LEVEL QUESTIONS TO GET THE RIGHT LOCATION AND GET THE RIGHT AGE AND HEALTH CONDITION OF WHO IS GETTING THE INFORMATION AND VERY QUICKLY, PULLS TOGETHER ALL OF THE PRIVATE PLAN OPTIONS AND ALL THE PUBLIC PLAN OPTIONS THAT A PERSON MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR. SO EVERYTHING FROM CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE TO MEDICAID PROGRAM, THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. EVERY PLAN THAT'S OFFERED IN THAT AREA, IN THAT MARKET IS AVAILABLE WITH SOME CONTACT INFORMATION, DOCTORS INFORMATION, OTHERS. 

BY OCTOBER WE'LL ALL OF THE PRICES. IT ALWAYS HAS A TIMELINE WHICH INDICATES WHEN THE VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE BILL GO INTO EFFECT. IT SAYS WHAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW BUT IN 6 MONTHS WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND WHAT ELSE IS CHANGING. GREAT INFORMATION ABOUT PREVENTIVE CARE. INFORMATION ABOUT -- I THINK THAT WE OFFER THAT LINK ON OUR WEBSITE, CANCER SCHMANCER. I'M GOING TO CHECK ON THAT. 7 WE OFFER WOMEN GOVERNMENT WEBSITES THAT THEY CAN GO TO. JUST IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS. HEALTHCARE.GOV. 

-- IT'S A GREAT CONSUMER TOOL. WOMEN AND FAMILIES, TOO, THAT WE CREATED WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN MIND. DONNA, DO YOU HAVE MORE? YOU HAVE 763 MORE? BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THEM ALL. -- WE'LL SEE HOW MANY WE CAN GET TO TODAY. THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM A MOMS-RISING MEMBER IN HARPER WOODS, MICHIGAN. MY SON, AGED 22, WAS CUT OFF FROM MY HEALTHCARE PLAN BY MY EMPLOYER SO MY EMPLOYER COULD SAVE MONEY HERE IN MICHIGAN. THE NEW PLAN WILL RESTORE HIS COVERAGE UNTIL HE REACHES THE AGE OF 26. WHEN DOES THAT RESTORATION BEGIN? EMPLOYER. BY SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, PLANS WILL HAVE TO REOPEN COVERAGE AND REENROLL YOUNG ADULTS WHICH IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR A LOT OF AMERICAN FAMILIES. WE KNOW THAT OUT OF THE THIRD OF THE YOUNG ADULTS IN AMERICA ARE UNINSURED. 

A LOT OF THEM ARE ENTERING A FRAGILE JOB MARKET WHERE THEIR EMPLOYER MAY NOT OFFER COVERAGE. A YOUNG ADULT CAN STAY ON A PARENT'S PLAN UP TO THE AGE OF 26 THEY MAY BE MARRIED. AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE EMPLOYER BASED COVERAGE OF THEIR OWN, THEY CAN STAY ON THEIR PARENTS' PLAN. 8 LOTS OF INSURANCE COMPANIES OPENED THAT UP RIGHT AWAY SO COLLEGE GRADUATES CAN STAY ENROLLED. OTHERS ARE NOT GOING TO OPEN THAT ENROLLMENT UNTIL AFTER THE LAW MANDATES IT WHICH IS THE 23rd OF SEPTEMBER FROM THE NEXT ENROLLMENT HERE. CALLING YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY, CALLING YOUR EMPLOYEE AND SEEING HOW FAST THAT CAN BE DONE IS A GOOD IDEA FOR ANY PARENT A GREAT NEW BENEFIT. 

I THINK I WAS GOING TO SAY ONE OF THE -- SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ARE COMING IN ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE SHOULD GO IN FOR TREATMENT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PREVENTION -- I'VE NOTICED I HAVE BEEN READING THROUGH NOT ALL 700 HERE, BUT FRAN, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ADVANTAGES. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SOMEBODY NOW THAT THERE ARE -- THESE ARE GOING TO BE COVERED? WHAT KIND OF BARRIER IN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THESE COMMUNITIES IS IT PRESENTING TO PEOPLE? OF COMPONENTS THAT FACTOR INTO WHY A WOMAN DOESN'T GET CHECKED AT THE EARLIEST AND MOST CURABLE STAGE OF CANCER OR ANY DISEASE FOR THAT MATTER. AND ONE IS THAT WOMEN TEND TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE VICTORIAN SENSIBILITY IF I CAN GRIN AND BEAR IT, I MUST DO SO. 

MY FAMILY COMES FIRST. AND I ALWAYS SAY TO THEM WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FAMILY FIRST YOU'LL REALLY PUTTING THEM LAST. YOU'RE USELESS TO THEM IF YOU'RE 6 FEET UNDER. SO WOMEN HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR THINKING THAT WHEN THEY FEEL 9 SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, AND WE ALL KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, THAT IS THE WHISPER, THAT IS WHEN IT'S MOST EASY TO DENY, EASY TO IGNORE, AND THAT'S WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT. YOU HAVE TO SAY THIS MIGHT BE NOTHING BUT I WANT TO CHECK IT OUT NOW WHILE IT'S EASY TO CURE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ALIVE AND WELL FOR MY FAMILY. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS EDUCATING US ON WHAT THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF VARIOUS CANCERS THAT MAY EFFECT YOU. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO SEEK OUT. YOU MAY HAVE TO GO ON THE INTERNET. I KNOW THAT WE OFFER THE EARLY WARNING WHISPERS OF CANCER SCHMANCER AND I'M SURE THERE ARE GOVERNMENT WEBSITES THAT DO THE SAME. 

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE VERY OFTEN EARLY SCREENING TESTS MAY NOT BE ON THE MENU AT YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE BEST MEDICAL COVERAGE. DOCTORS HAVE BEEN BLUDGEONED BY HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO GO THE LEAST EXPENSIVE ROUTE OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. AND AS A RESULT OF HAVE THAT, THERE IS VERY LITTLE ATTENTION PAID, FOR EXAMPLE, TO WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS SHORT OF THE ARCHAIC BIANNUAL PELVIC EXAM, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF HAVE THAT, 80% OF ALL WOMEN WITH OVARIAN CANCER WILL FIND OUT IN THE LATE STAGES, AND OVER 70% OF THEM WILL DIE. THEY'RE BEING TOLD THAT IT'S A SILENT KILLER WHICH IS NOT TRUE. IF YOU ARE HAVING UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT GAIN, EVEN A POUND A MONTH, IF YOU HAVE INDIGESTION, 10 DISTENDED STOMACH, FEELING BLOATED, ALL OF THESE ARE EARLY WARNINGS WHISPERS OF OVARIAN CANCER WHICH IS VERY AGGRESSIVE. ALL TOO OFTEN WOMEN ARE MISDIAGNOSED FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. 

MANY WOMEN DON'T REALIZE AT THE EARLIEST AND MOST CURABLE STAGE, IT MIMMICKS ALMOST IDEALLY A FAR MORE BENIGN ILLNESS. WHEN I MEET A WOMAN TOLD SHE HAS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, I SAY FOR THE MOMENT, STEP AWAY FROM THE GASTROENTEROLOGIST. GO TO YOUR GYNECOLOGIST AND RULE OUT OVARIAN COUNSELOR. THAT'S ONE ILLNESS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE MISDIAGNOSED FOR. I WAS 2 YEARS I HAD A PERIMENOPAUSAL CONDITION. ALL THE WHILE I HAD UTERINE CANCER. EDUCATION IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT. 

UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO ON A DAILY BASIS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN WHO ARE VERY OFTEN BUYING THE PRODUCTS THEY CLEAN THEIR HOME WITH. WHAT THEY PUT ON THEIR SKIN AND WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR BODIES, WHAT THEY EAT. I THINK THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO EAT FOODS THAT ARE LOW IN SATURATED FATS, THAT ARE LOW IN PESTICIDES AND CHEMICALS. THE MORE WHOLE FOODS YOU CAN EAT, BETTER TO HAVE AN APPLE THAN, YOU KNOW, A BAG OF GREASY REFRIED SOMETHING. EVEN WAL-MART IS OFFERING ORGANIC FOOD NOW DAYS. 

SO THERE ARE AVENUES. AND WE JUST HAVE TO LEARN WHAT THEY ARE. BETTER TO HAVE A BOWL OF RICE AN BEANS WHICH IS SO HEALTHY AND NUTRITION, THAN HAVING SOMETHING THAT'S OVERLY PROCESSED AND 11 FILLED WITH CHEMICALS. THAT'S ONLY GOING TO MAKE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY UNWELL. SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND LEARN ABOUT. AND THEN I THINK A LOT OF AMERICANS DON'T REALIZE UNTIL ALL OF THE BENEFITS HAVE THIS BILL IS PUT IN PLACE, GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL CANNOT TURN YOU AWAY. THAT'S THE LAW. 

AND YOU JUST GO. JUST GO. AND FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE THE FAMILY THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WHO ARE FARMERS, YOU KNOW, THEY SOMETIMES CAN BE 300 MILES AWAY FROM THE NEAREST HOSPITAL. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEM AND BE ABLE TO MAKE THE TIME TO GET TO A DOCTOR OR GET TO A HOSPITAL WHEN THAT'S NECESSARY, AND IF, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S BEING USED OR WHATEVER, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A NUMBER AND EMERGENCY NO. A NEIGHBOR THAT CAN HELP YOU. 

AND GET SOME KIND OF A LITTLE CARTEL OF PEOPLE TOGETHER. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. AS I WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WOMEN ARE THE CAREGIVERS TO THE CHILD, THE SPOUSE, THE ELDERS, IN ALMOST EVERY HOME WORLDWIDE. SHE IS THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO SET THE TONE FOR HOW HEALTHY HER FAMILY IS GOING TO BE. -- THAT'S A PERFECT SEGUE. WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 7 MINUTES OR SO. YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF REALLY GOOD KIDS QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, SO ANY QUESTION YOU 12 WANT, BUT I WAS READING A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS ABOUT KIDS. THEY KNOW YOU'RE HERE, SO -- MEMBER IN MARYLAND. WHO ASKED CHILDHOOD VACCINES FOR ALL CHILDREN BE COVERED IN YOUR PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM. THERE IS A TASK FORCE AND THEY LOOK AT AND UPDATE ALL KINDS OF PREVENTIVE CARE RECOMMENDATIONS. 

SO ANYTHING THAT IS IN THEIR TOP 2 TIERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS AUTOMATICALLY BE ADDED. INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO OFFER THE PREVENTIVE SERVICES WITHOUT COPAYS AND THE DEDUCTIBLES, AND THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS MEDICARE AND MEDICAID WILL DO THE SAME. KIDS IMMUNIZATIONS WILL BE PART OF THAT CRITICAL PACKAGE. THE EARLIER WE CAN GET THE KIDS -- AS YOU KNOW WITH MOMS-RISING, YOU'RE ALL FOCUSED ON HAVING ALL CHILDREN HAVE A HEALTHY START. IMMUNIZATIONS ARE A HUGE PART. DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION OR IS THERE ANY EFFORT, DO YOU THINK, BEING MADE ON LOOKING ANY SPACING APART IMMUNIZATIONS? BECAUSE OVER THE DECADES, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE AND MORE IMMUNIZATIONS OFFERED TO CHILDREN WHERE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN 7 AT ONE POINT, NOW THERE IS LIKE 18 I THINK. 

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHETHER YOU HAD ANY THOUGHTS ON IT OR WHETHER YOU THINK THAT THERE IS ANY KIND OF AWARENESS RAISING IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY TOWARD SPACING THEM A LITTLE BIT? NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH THERE IS A INSTITUTE ON 13 VACCINATIONS, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO IS CONSTANTLY RUN CLINICAL TRIALS, TESTING NOT ONLY SAFETY OF INDIVIDUAL VACCINES BUT SAFETY OF VACCINES GIVEN TOGETHER, SPACING COMPONENTS, HOW FREQUENTLY THEY HAVE TO BE GIVEN IN TERMS OF BOOSTING IMMUNIZATION. 

SO THAT'S THE SAFETY FEATURES, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY AWARE OF AND CONCERNED ABOUT. IT'S A BIT OF A CATCH 22, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS OFFER THEM IN A WAY THAT'S CONVENIENT, SO IF YOUR CHILD CAN SAFELY HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TAKEN CARE OF AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WANT TO DO THAT AS OPPOSED TO SAYING TO A BUSY MOM OR DAD, COME BACK 3 WEEKS IN A ROW. BUT CLEARLY, THE SAFETY ISSUES ARE PRIMARY. 

SO THAT'S CONSTANTLY BEING TESTED AND EVALUATED. -- ONE OR TWO MORE QUESTIONS, THEN WE WRAP IT UP WITH PARTING THOUGHTS. FROM A MEMBER IN TEXAS. SHE SAYS MY FRIEND HAS BEEN AN RN FOR MANY YEARS. CURRENTLY WORKING AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS SHE'S REQUIRED EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS FOR BLOOD BONE MARROW DISEASE. HER MEDICAL INSURANCE IS NEARLY MAXED OUT. HER HEALTH COVERAGE WILL END SOON. 

YET SHE MUST CONTINUE THESE TREATMENTS OR RISK CERTAIN DEATH. WHAT CAN SHE DO? PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS A MEASURE THAT GOES INTO PLACE THIS YEAR WHICH SAYS THAT 14 INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN NO LONGER PUT ANNUAL LIMITS ON BENEFITS AND WILL BEGIN TO FATE OUT THE LIFETIME CAP. IT'S IRONIC THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED INSURANCE COVERAGE THE MOST FOUND THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS OFTEN IN THE MIDST OF HAVE A VERY CRITICAL TREATMENT, AND VERY IMPORTANT CHEMOTHERAPY REGIME, SUDDENLY THEY REACH A WALL. THEY PAID THEIR BILLS, PLAYED BY THE RULES. 

AND THEY DON'T HAVE COVERAGE WHEN THEY NEED IT. THAT'S ONE I THINK IS THE WORST FEATURES OF THE CURRENT MARKET. AND THAT WILL NOT BE LEGAL ANY LONGER. -- THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS. I CAN JUST WEEP HEARING THAT. IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND I BET YOU DOUGHNUT FOR DOUGHNUT THAT THE CAP WILL NO LONGER BE LEGAL, THEY'LL START PUSHING MORE FOR PREVENTION. BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY -- PEOPLE GET TOO SICK IT WILL END UP COSTING THEM. WE'VE ALL SAID, IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE THAN EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS. NO LONGER WILL PEOPLE HAVE TO WORRY. THAT'S PART OF THE PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS THAT HAPPENS THIS YEAR. MORE? THEN WRAPPING UP? -- WE WILL BE BACK WITH DONNA'S QUESTIONS ONLINE AND I KNOW WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO ALL OF THEM. THEY ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. 

WE'LL BE WORKING TO GET YOU ANSWERS. -- THIS IS A QUESTION FROM A 15 MEMBER ON ISSUE OF PREVENTION. IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE REFORM THAT ADDRESSES PREVENTION AND WELLNESS OVER THE CURRENT MODEL OF TREATING DISEASE SUCH AS OBESITY, DIABETES, DEPRESSION WITH MEDICATIONS AFTER ONSET HAS ALREADY OCCURRED? LAW. AS WE SAY, THERE IS NO LONGER A COPAY OR DEDUCTIBLE SO GETTING RID OF THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS. BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT IS THE KIND OF OUTREACH EFFORT. THE FIRST LADY HAS BECOME A HUGE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY, ENDING CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE GENERATION. ONE OF THE SILENT HEALTH CRISIS OF OUR COUNTRY, THAT A THIRD OF OUR KIDS ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. THE NUMBERS ARE RISE -- OBESE CHILDREN HAVE A SHORTER LIFE SPAN THAN THEIR PARENTS WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR THE HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY, NOT GOOD FOR THE SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF THIS COUNTRY. 

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMUNITY PREVENTION EFFORTS WHICH ARE UNDER WAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THERE IS A PREVENTION FUND WHICH WILL HAVE A STREAM OF MONEY REPLENISHED EVERY YEAR AMID MOST PROMISING PREVENTION STRATEGIES STARTING IN 2010 AND ON. SO THERE IS A LOT OF EFFORT TO ACTUALLY MOVE TO A MUCH EARLIER PHASE, GET EVERYBODY, FUND PREVENTION STRATEGIES, PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFE STYLES. IT WILL START THIS YEAR. FAST FOOD OPERATIONS AND VENDING MACHINES HAVE TO START PUTTING CALORIES SO PEOPLE BEGIN TO GET CONNECTED WITH WHAT THEY'RE 16 BUYING AND OATH. MORE HEALTHY FOODS AND VEGETABLES IN NEIGHBORHOODS. NOT BEEN IN PLACE BEFORE WHICH CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY. EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT. I WENT TO A BAKERY LAST NIGHT WITH MY HUSBAND AND THEY JUST HAD INSTITUTED THE LABELING. 

ON EVERYTHING. HE LOOKED AT THESE COOKIES AND SAID 450-CALORIES? THERE IS NO WAY. HE DIDN'T BUY THE COOKIE. SO I THINK REALLY GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR. THINK ABOUT MAKING CHOICES. -- WELL, DONNA, WE'RE WRAPPING UP. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH THAT MOMS-RISING HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND ASKING ABOUT WITH PREVENTION. WHAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE TO YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT THE NEW LAW? -- I THINK IT'S SUCH A GREAT RULE FOR MOMS AND FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO OTHER MOMS AND DADS AND PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PROVISIONS AND HEALTHCARE REFORM TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE.

GOV, AND WE'LL BE STARTING A CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE MOMS AND DADS ARE REACHING OUT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE WITH YOUR SECRETARY'S CHALLENGE AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, ON OUR MOMS-RISING.ORG WEBSITE WE'LL CONTINUE TO ANSWER THE 17 QUESTIONS. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS, FAMILIES U.S.A. THEY'LL BE ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS EVERY WEEK ON THE OUR WEBSITE. THE FOLKS THAT DIDN'T GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED WILL BE CONTINUING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THEIR WEBSITE. 

PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK ON OUR WEBSITE TO LOOK FOR ANSWERS TO YOUR GREAT QUESTIONS. DO THEY PLAY IN PREVENTION AND WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DO YOU WANT YOUR MEMBERS TO HEAR? STAGE ONE IS THE CURE RIGHT NOW. IF YOU'RE 95% OF THE PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, DIAGNOSED IN STAGE ONE, YOU WILL REACH THAT 5 YEAR SURVIVAL RATE. EXERCISE, STOP SMOKING, DRINK A LOT OF WATER AND EAT RIGHT AND EXERCISE. 

AND CHECK EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOUSE, WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON YOUR BODY. TRY TO KEEP IT AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE. GO ON TO CANCER SCHMANCER.ORG AND JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP AND GET INVOLVED. WE'RE CHANGING POLICY IN WASHINGTON SO THAT THE LAWS CAN BE BETTER FOR YOU. AND WE'RE TEACHING YOU HOW TO LIVE PREVENTIVELY AND GET DIAGNOSED EARLY. BECOME BETTER PARTNERS WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. SECRETARY, HOW DOES THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HELP THESE GUY? AND FRAN FOR BEING PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. 18 WE CLEARLY NEED A LOT MORE TIME SO MAYBE WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THEM BOTH BACK. 

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT A LOT OF THE FEATURES OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS BEEN ABOUT CHANGES IN THE INSURANCE MARKET. THERE IS A CRITICAL PART OF IT. THERE IS SO MUCH UNDERLYING IN THE BUILD AND FOCUSING ON PREVENTION, FOCUSING ON WELLNESSES, PROVIDING CONSUMERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED, INFORMATION, ACCESS TO HEALTHIER FOODS, CHANGING CURRICULUM IN SCHOOLS, SO KIDS GET HEALTHIER SCHOOL CHOICES. MORE PHYSICAL EDUCATION. THIS HAS TO BE A CHANGE THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO MAKE TOGETHER. AND IT CAN'T JUST BE A WASHINGTON CHANGE. IT'S DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY AND GRASS ROOT EFFORTS. 

HAVE I THINK THE KIND OF CONSUMER EFFORTS THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ARE SO CRITICAL. PEOPLE NEED TOOLS FOR THEMSELVES AND NEED TO HELP TO MAKE GREAT CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HEALTHY. EVERYBODY WANTS THEIR CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY. WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. 

THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GET TO PEOPLE, THE LAW HELPS TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK, CHANGES THE WORST POLICIES SO WE PROVIDE COVERAGE WHEN PEOPLE GET SICK AND INTERVENE EARLY TO KEEP THEM EARLIER. I WANT TO THANK THE MOMS-RISING AUDIENCE. ALL THESE WEBSITES HAVE GREAT TOOLS FROM YOU. 19 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. GO ON TO HEALTHCARE.GOV. PASS A COPY OF THIS VIDEO ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS, IT'S ARCHIVED ON HEALTHCARE.GOV. MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HEARS THE GREAT WORDS WE HEARD FROM OUR GUESTS TODAY. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

NOTE: The transcript for this program may have been compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.