WASHINGTON (March 13, 2010)—The Catholic Health Association, which represents Catholic hospitals, is backing President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill.

The support could help persuade anti-abortion lawmakers to provide critical votes in the House for the overhaul.

The group's chief executive, Carol Keehan, wrote on the association's Web site that the legislation isn't perfect, but is "a major first step" toward covering all Americans and would make "great improvements" for millions of people.

The association's support widens a split among abortion opponents who are divided on whether the legislation does enough to deny taxpayer money for abortion.

The National Right to Life Committee and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops say it doesn't.