Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration held a Wednesday press conference highlighting free health services available to women across the state.
The conference took place on Aug. 26 — which is also Women’s Equality Day — and featured six speakers from Penn Medicine and the state government. Presenters emphasized the importance of pre- and postnatal care, as well as preventive procedures like cancer screenings.
“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, women in Pennsylvania can receive numerous preventative health services through their insurance at no additional cost,” Penn Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Director of Wellness Pamela Levin said.
Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys noted the lack of public knowledge regarding access to care.
Humphreys said that a survey conducted by the state’s Insurance Department found that “31% of responding Pennsylvania women identified as either very or somewhat unaware” of the preventive services available to them under the ACA.
Respondents listed cost as the “top factor” influencing their decision to receive primary healthcare services, Humphreys added.
Services available with no out-of-pocket cost include annual wellness visits, breast and cervical cancer screenings, anxiety screenings, breastfeeding support, and contraception, according to an Aug. 26 press release.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Special Advisor to the Secretary Sara Goulet highlighted the doula certification, which “recognizes and promotes the profession” — improving the experience of all pregnant people, “but especially those on Medicaid.”
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Pennsylvania is the first state to secure a “registered apprenticeship program” for doulas, which allows for participants to receive payment for the duration of the training.
“We definitely have other states that are interested,” Goulet said in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Goulet additionally highlighted ways that students can access care, stating that “about 33% of Pennsylvanians are covered under Medicaid.”
She added that while Medicaid is only available for United States citizens, international students can still work with “community-based organizations that offer care, no questions asked.”
Humphreys said that the Trump administration has created “confusion” about which benefits would be covered by various insurance policies and about the vaccines and medical treatments that “may be most appropriate” for citizens.
However, he emphasized that Pennsylvanians can freely seek additional information about their coverage.
“You can reach out to us at the Department of Insurance,” Humphreys said. “We’re always glad to help clarify any confusion sowed by the federal government.”
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Senior reporter Addison Saji leads coverage of science and health and can be reached at saji@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies English. Follow her on X at @addisonsaji.
