
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 1, 1993                   TAG: 9305010069
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

ABORTION ITEM MAY DOOM HEALTH REFORM

To understand how difficult it will be to pass a health reform bill, consider the bitter fight that is about to erupt over just one item expected to be in the Clinton administration's plan: universal coverage of abortion.

President Clinton could be putting the entire health reform plan at risk by proposing that the basic benefits package available to all Americans include abortion coverage, as congressional sources expect him to do. The issue is expected to arouse strong opposition within Congress and among the public.

In a New York Times survey last month, seven of 10 Americans said that women should pay directly for abortions and that abortions should not be covered in the basic insurance package.

Abortion opponents already are warning that they will hold health reform hostage over the issue.

The debate over whether to cover abortions will focus mainly on the role of the federal government in paying for them. Under the administration's plan, Americans would be guaranteed a package of benefits.

by CNB