Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

Judy Waxman is the Vice President of Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women's Law Center. She pioneers advocacy, policy and educational strategies to promote the quality and availability of health care, including reproductive choice, for American women. Prior to joining the National Women's Law Center, Ms. Waxman served as Deputy Executive Director at Families USA for over a decade. In that capacity, she worked to achieve high quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans and was a leader on grassroots and activities on Medicaid, Medicare and other health care access legislative issues. She previously served as a Professional Staff Member with the Pepper Commission (the United States Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care). Ms. Waxman was also an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, an attorney for the Department of Health and Human Services and served as President of the Board of Directors of the Women's Medical Center, a nonprofit health clinic. She served on advisory committees for publications of the Alan Guttmacher Institute and the Older Women's League (OWL), and was the Chair of the Health Task Force of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and of the Leadership Conference of Aging Organizations. She holds a law degree from American University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami, in Florida.

Expert in: Abortion, Pharmacy Refusals, Emergency Contraception, Health Insurance, Barriers to Reproductive Care, Religious Restrictions, Family Planning, Health Care Reform, Medicaid & Other Public Funding, Pregnancy Rights, Report Card on Women's Health, Health Care & Reproductive Rights

My Take

Take Action: Tell your Representative Not to Mess with Abortion Access for D.C. Women

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: July 30, 2012 at 01:04 pm

Stop the restrictions!

Tell your Representative to oppose the effort to limit access to abortion for women who live in Washington, D.C.

With only a few days left until August recess, this is what they are prioritizing — an anti-abortion bill that the Senate will never consider? Well, the House of Representatives is at it again and this time, just to add insult to injury, they are going after women who have no voting representation in the House.

Tell your Member of Congress to oppose the D.C. Abortion Ban and stop your Representative from making decisions for women about their reproductive health.

H.R. 3803, also known as the "D.C. Abortion Ban," would ban almost all abortions in Washington, D.C. for women starting at twenty weeks post-fertilization. The legislation seeks to ban abortion after twenty weeks regardless of a woman's situation and without exceptions for rape, incest or to protect a woman's health.

Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: June 28, 2012 at 03:33 pm

I do not say this lightly — today is a GREAT day for women and their families. And it’s only possible because you helped us fight for this historic health care law. Celebrate with us and share it with your family and friends!

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the health care law means that millions of women and their families can rest assured they will experience all its benefits, including:

Women will no longer be considered a pre-existing condition by insurance companies and be charged more than men for the same health coverage.

Preventive health services like mammograms, birth control, and well women visits will be covered without a co-pay or deductible.

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All Women Need Access to Birth Control without Co-pays

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: June 07, 2012 at 05:24 pm

Your Voice is Crucial

Tell HHS all women deserve access to birth control without a co-pay!

Forty-seven years ago today, the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Griswold v. Connecticut established a right to use contraceptives without interference from the state. It's hard to believe that nearly a half century later, politicians are still trying to erect barriers to women's access to affordable birth control.

Tell the Department of Health and Human Services that all women, no matter where they work or go to school, need access to birth control without co-pays or burdensome obstacles.

Last summer, we secured a big victory when all FDA-approved contraceptives were added to the list of preventive health services that all new health insurance plans must cover without a co-pay or deductible. Unfortunately, 335,000 houses of worship received an exemption from the requirement, leaving their female employees without access to this critical benefit.

Now the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed an "accommodation" for other religiously affiliated organizations, which would shift the responsibility of providing contraceptive coverage without cost sharing to the insurance companies. HHS is asking for comments and we must make sure that any "accommodation" does not put additional hurdles in the path of women seeking contraception. Employees of religiously affiliated organizations must have access to contraception to the same extent as employees of other organizations and companies.

They're at It Again: Health Care Law Under Attack

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: June 06, 2012 at 12:32 pm

Stop the Attacks

Tell your Representative to oppose legislation that undermines tax credits in the health care law that help make health insurance coverage more affordable for women and their families.

Opponents of the health care law are determined to weaken the law by any means — even if it means hurting millions of middle class families.

Help us fight back — the House of Representatives will vote tomorrow: tell your Member of Congress to oppose H.R. 436, legislation that undermines tax credits in the health care law that help make health insurance coverage more affordable for women and their families.

Opponents of the law are trying to pass legislation that would eliminate some of its most important benefits, making affordable health coverage an unattainable dream for millions of women and their families.

Under the law, millions of families will receive tax credits to help make insurance more affordable. The law protects individuals and families from having to pay an excessive tax if they have an unexpected change in income — such as a promotion or year-end bonus — or if they get married. This legislation would eliminate this protection, leaving low and middle income families vulnerable to hundreds or even thousands in additional taxes.

You're Invited: Women's Health Townhall at the White House

Posted by Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights | Posted on: June 04, 2012 at 04:57 pm

Got questions about what the health care law means for women? We've got answers! I'll be at the White House this Thursday, June 7, from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. ET for an interactive Women's Health Townhall. Please join us online!

You can submit questions by visiting us on Facebook and leaving your question as a comment, or by sending a tweet with the hashtag #WomensHealth. Then on Thursday, June 7 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. ET, you can watch the event live at www.whitehouse.gov/live or follow our live tweets @nwlc to see if your question is answered.

The White House's Women’s Health Townhall participants include:

Tina Tchen, Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council

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Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights

My Take