Policy & practice.(Practice Trends)

UNBORN VICTIMS ACT SIGNED President Bush last month signed into law a measure that would make it a separate crime to cause the death or injury of a fetus. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act was passed by a vote of 254-163 by the House and 61-38 in the Senate. "Until today, the federal criminal code had been silent on the injury or death of a child in cases of violence against a pregnant woman," President Bush said. "This omission in the law has led to clear injustices." But abortion rights advocates say the bill is an assault on abortion rights. "President Bush is making good on his pledge to do everything in his power to restrict a woman's right to choose," said Kate Michelman, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

STD AWARENESS Adults in the United States think they know a lot about sexually transmitted diseases, but they lack important knowledge about STDs such as viral hepatitis, according to a new survey sponsored by the American Social Health Association. Of those surveyed, 57% did not know that hepatitis A can be sexually transmitted, and 44% did not know that hepatitis B can be an STD. While 84% of respondents felt that they take the necessary steps to protect themselves against STDs, 45% of single respondents said that they did not use protection during vaginal inter-course. The survey was conducted in March among 1,155 adults aged 18-35 years.

FAMILY PLANNING SAVINGS Medicaid coverage of contraceptive services saves state and federal governments money, according to a study published in The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy. In the last 10 years, 18 states have received federal waivers to expand Medicaid eligibility for family planning services to individuals who would otherwise not be eligible. Evaluation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of six of these programs showed that all had net savings. For example, the program in Oregon saved a combined $20 million in 1 year for the state and the federal government, and South ...