"Access to abortion is being used to hijack legitimate debate about the scope and type of health care reform," wrote Emilie C. Ailts, executive director of Denver-based NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado in a letter to the editor published in the Denver Daily News.

"While it’s true that abortion is a complex issue that brings out strong emotions from all ends of the spectrum, it’s important to remember that abortion is just one aspect of the full range of reproductive health care services a woman may seek throughout her lifetime.

"This headline-grabbing focus on the 'a-word' means opportunities to use health care reform to increase access to and use of other vital reproductive services could be lost to political gamesmanship.

"Take, for example, gaps for those women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term. In 2007, the National Women’s Law Center ranked Colorado 42nd overall when it came to women receiving adequate prenatal care...."  

Read the full letter to the editor online at