With the current debate about health care reform and a public option, there is no doubt that the private insurance companies are pouring millions of dollars into lobbying. This article "The Influence Game:Birth Centers Fight for Fees" describes a different kind of lobbyist. Karen Fennel is a a former nurse as well as a lobbyist for birth centers all over the United Sates who provide prenatal care to women who are poor or too far from a hospital to receive care. Surprisingly, despite the lack of large funds, Fennel has convinced lawmakers in Washington to continue to fund these birth centers. The Obama administration is backing Fennel because they believe providing prenatal care will save money in the long run. Two years ago, the agency overseeing federal health programs suddenly stopped reimbursing birth centers after 20 years claiming that they no longer had the legal authority to do so. With 250 birth centers scattered around the US and serving a large portion of low income women, Fennel knew that this would just not do. She has come to Washington armed with evidence and facts to show law makers that the birth centers cut the amount of costly births in this country. Part of her success is also due to the fact that she represents a constituency that no politician is willing to shun, mothers-to-be. The rest is due to the fact that she always has a backup plan. Fennel says if birth center reimbursement were to somehow be dropped from the legislation or the bill was dropped altogether, she'll try to get it attached to a budget measure that could move by year's end.
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS (AP)
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