November 12, 2001

The Honorable Bill Frist
Health, Education, Labor
and Pensions Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510-6300

Dear Senator Frist:

Attached is my written testimony opposing the legislation called EPICC (Equity in
Prescription Insurance and Contraception Coverage), a Medical Briefing in
Opposition to S104, a Feb 2000 special article published in Arch. Fam. Med.
"Postfertilization Effects of Oral Contraceptives and Their Relationship to
Informed Consent", and a brochure on "Breast Cancer Risk from The Pill".

The fundamental freedom that is at issue is "conscience", the freedom of individuals
to "conscious choices" in health care. Most employers, employees, individuals and
taxpayers are already forced to finance confidential procedures that have been proven
to be unhealthy for children, are abortifacient, cause infertility and breast cancer, are
dangerous to children's health and welfare and undermine the parent/child relationship.

It was very disappointing that the September 10, 2001 Hearing on EPICC did not
include testimony pointing out the dangerous medical consequences of this legislation
and the serious threat it is to children, parental rights and right of conscience.

There are plenty of health plans available with contraceptive coverage. If EPICC is
passed, there will no longer be freedom of choice in health plans for those who do not
want to subsidize contraception coverage. S. 104 and H.R. 1111 discriminate against
all Americans, men, women and children. To protect conscience in health care, it is
critical that the payer's freedom in health plans is protected, which include all US
citizens and organizations. What we pay for is what we get! To force all health
plans to subsidize contraception is a serious attack on women, children, family,
religious liberty and right of conscience.

Senator Frist, I have great confidence that you will take the appropriate leadership to
make all legislators aware of the serious consequences of EPICC. I look forward to
hearing from you on what steps you will be taking on this matter.

Very sincerely yours,

Michael J. O'Dea
Executive Director