Senator Boxer: Preserve Women's Health Research Centers

June 26, 2007

The National Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health (CoEs) is a unique and important multi disciplinary program that benefits women and families across the United States. There are two outstanding Centers of Excellence in California, at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, San Francisco.

The successful CoE program has been in place for more than a decade, building on its strong record of research into women’s heath issues.  But now the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants to eliminate the program. I strongly oppose this action and recently wrote to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt to voice my opposition.  I am happy to share the text of my message, which you will find below.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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The Honorable Michael Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Leavitt:

I understand that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has notified the Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health (CoEs) that their contracts will be terminated, beginning September 30, 2007. I am writing in strong support of continued funding and designation for the Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health.

As you know, the Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health were launched by HHS in 1996. There are now 48 CoEs across the United States, two of which are in California. The CoEs form a unique and important network of multi disciplinary programs which benefit women and families by integrating women’s health, education, research, and community involvement.

In California, the Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health provide comprehensive primary care and specialty consultation for women across greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Through basic and clinical research, these programs are developing new preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools and reaching across barriers of language, ethnicity, and education to improve health care for women throughout California.

The federal investment in CoEs and the development of their network of programs have achieved outstanding results for women’s health at the local, state and national level. As a result, the CoEs have been very successful in leveraging funding in their communities. The federal investment of $21 million has allowed the CoEs to generate $400 million for their programs.

Through their collaborative efforts, CoEs have had great success in addressing the alarming disparities in women's health care throughout the nation. I urge you to continue to fund CoEs and keep the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health designation and network intact. I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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