Healthcare reform is not perfect, but offers a step toward protecting human dignity, the largest group of U. S. non-profit health systems says.

I applaud the U. S. House of Representatives and President Barack Obama for enacting healthcare reform legislation that will save and improve lives, says Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive office of the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

Keehan says in a statement, "It represents great progress in the long effort to make healthcare available and affordable to everyone in the United States. We call upon the U. S. Senate to move quickly to enact the accompanying correction legislation in order that the full benefits of reform become a reality."

Keehan further says that the Catholic Health Association has long championed healthcare reform that protects life, makes coverage affordable for the greatest possible number of people and puts our system on a path to reducing costs.

Keehan further adds, "We are confident that the reform law does not allow federal funding of abortion and that it keeps in place important conscience protections for caregivers and institutions alike. We are also pleased that the bill includes $250 million to fund counseling, education, job training and housing for vulnerable women who are pregnant or parenting." (With Inputs from Agencies)