Reform has $250 million for pregnant women

WASHINGTON, March 22 (UPI) -- The largest group of U.S. non-profit health systems says healthcare reform is not perfect, but offers a step toward protecting human dignity.

Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive office of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives and President Barack Obama for enacting healthcare reform legislation that she says will save and improve lives.

"It represents great progress in the long effort to make healthcare available and affordable to everyone in the United States," Keehan says in a statement. "We call upon the U.S. Senate to move quickly to enact the accompanying correction legislation in order that the full benefits of reform become a reality."

The Catholic Health Association has long championed healthcare reform that protects life, makes coverage affordable for the greatest possible number of people and puts our system on a path to reducing costs, Keehan says.

As regulations are put into place, Catholic-sponsored healthcare providers will continue to serve everyone who requires care -- regardless of their ability to pay, Keehan says.

"We are confident that the reform law does not allow federal funding of abortion and that it keeps in place important conscience protections for caregivers and institutions alike," Keehan says. "We are also pleased that the bill includes $250 million to fund counseling, education, job training and housing for vulnerable women who are pregnant or parenting."