Blog Archive

From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

And Kagan Makes Three!

August 5, 2010 | Judges and Supreme Court

I am thrilled that the Senate has confirmed Elena Kagan to serve on the Supreme Court. This is an important milestone in our journey toward equal rights for women - and our nation will be stronger as a result.

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From the desk of ... Portia Wu

What you shouldn't have to expect when you're expecting

July 23, 2010 | Work and Family | Workplace Fairness

Owning your own home has long been a central part of the American Dream. It's as American as baseball, apple pie and mom. But according to this column in the New York Times, a lot of moms and moms-to-be are getting short shrift.

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From the desk of ... Portia Wu

Time to Step Up!

July 21, 2010 | Workplace Fairness

Today the Obama Administration issued a rousing call to action on two of the most important priorities for working women and families — equal pay for equal work, and strong work-family policies.

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From the desk of ... Portia Wu

This Morning at the White House...

July 20, 2010 | Work and Family | Workplace Fairness

They'll be talking about you and me, when Vice President Biden hosts an event focusing on some of the issues that matter most to women's economic security: equal pay and work-family policies.

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From the desk of ... Christine Bechtel, Health IT

Great News: 'Meaningful Use' Rule Released Today!

July 13, 2010 | Health Care | Health Care > Health Information Technology (IT)

We've said it before and you know it's true: health information technology is for better health outcomes, not just better technology. And the new regulations released by the Obama administration show that they get it.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

BREAKING NEWS: Dr. Berwick is Appointed!

July 7, 2010 | Health Care | Health Care > Campaign for Better Care

Today, President Obama appointed Dr. Donald Berwick to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). I truly believe that Dr. Berwick is the best man for the job - he is a highly qualified candidate with extraordinary skill, vast experience and a deep dedication to improving America's health care system.

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From the desk of ... Kirsten Sloan

HealthCare.gov: Your Health Care, Explained!

July 6, 2010 | Health Care | Health Care > Campaign for Better Care

For many American families, women are the ones who gather information, compare plans, and make the decision about which plan best suits their needs and budget. Today, your job got a little easier.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Dr. Berwick... Just What the Doctor Ordered

July 1, 2010 | Health Care | Health Care > Campaign for Better Care

Enough is enough. Dr. Berwick - nominee for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - has been the victim of partisan and baseless attacks, and at the Campaign for Better Care, we think it's time to set the record straight.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

Progress...Power...Women...Lunch!

June 30, 2010 | Health Care

A heartfelt thanks to the honoree of this year's National Partnership annual luncheon, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who inspired us with her comments on the future of health reform - and the many women in top positions who are working to implement it.

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From the desk of ... Debra L. Ness

New Survey: People Need, Want Paid Sick Days

June 21, 2010 | Work and Family

Do you worry about losing your job when you get sick? If you're like 40 million other workers in this country, perhaps you should!

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From the desk of ... Portia Wu

This Fathers' Day, Congress Should Show that it Remembers Dads and Moms Too

June 18, 2010 | Work and Family

On Sunday, people around the country will be finding a way to show our fathers what an important role they play in our lives. So it's ironic that this week Congress missed a chance to show the American people that it understands that dads—and moms, too—deserve policies to help them meet work and family needs.

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From the desk of ... Sharyn Tejani

Happy 47th Birthday, Equal Pay Act! You haven't changed a bit!

June 10, 2010 | Workplace Fairness

In 1963, the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits employers from paying women less than men for the same work, became law. A lot has changed in the workplace since then. But the Equal Pay Act is still pretty much the same as it was 47 years ago.

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From the desk of ... Judith L. Lichtman

The Sweet Smell of Progress

June 9, 2010 | Judges and Supreme Court

Earlier this month, I was invited by the White House to watch President Obama nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve on the Supreme Court. The ceremony was even more moving than I expected, and that took me a little by surprise.

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From the desk of ... Judith L. Lichtman

Kagan: Supremely Intelligent, Eminently Qualified

May 13, 2010 | Judges and Supreme Court

I had the honor and privilege of attending a special announcement ceremony at the White House on Monday, and I couldn't be more pleased with President Obama's decision to nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the next United States Supreme Court justice. I have known her for many decades and have deep respect for her commitment to equal justice.

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Laura Hessburg, Senior Health Policy Advisor

From the desk of ... Laura Hessburg, Repro Health Watch

An Anniversary Worth Noting

May 10, 2010 | Reproductive Health

The kudos about the 50th anniversary of the FDA's approval of the birth control pill are well deserved. Timely access to contraceptive services has vastly improved maternal and child health, and has been the driving force in reducing rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion in this country. Women's ability to control our fertility has helped us achieve personal, educational and professional goals and made us a critical component of the nation's success.

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From the desk of ... Sharyn Tejani

Mother's Day

May 7, 2010 | Workplace Fairness

My mother has worked full-time in New York for most of her life. New data from the Center for American Progress shows that because of the wage gap between men and women, my mom lost out on $312,000 over her working life.

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From the desk of ... Lynn Feinberg

It's Older Americans Month and My Family Needs Better Care! Does Yours?

May 4, 2010 | Health Care | Health Care > Campaign for Better Care

My two sisters and I are a team. For several years, as we each juggled our own work and family responsibilities, we willingly took on the role of "advocate" and "coordinator" of health care across settings (home, hospital, nursing home) for my father, who died last year at the age of 94. It wasn't easy. At times it sapped our energy and our spirits. But we took on the role out of love and a deep respect for our father.

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Lee Partridge, Senior Health Policy Advisor

From the desk of ... Lee Partridge

The "Business Case" for Eliminating Health Care Disparities

April 26, 2010 | Health Care | Health Care > Quality Care Now

No one would deny that health care in the United States is riddled with disparities - in access, in treatment, and in outcomes. There are disparities due to gender, race/ethnicity, place of residence, socio-economic status, age and insurance status. Until recently, few attempts have been made to examine how those disparities affect costs. A spate of recent research, however, builds a powerful case for paying much more attention to the connection.

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