Planned Parenthood and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health Laud Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and Demand Greater Access to Health Care and Birth Control for Women

Two key champions of health care reform — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) — participated today in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) 2010 Public Policy Conference by sponsoring a networking breakfast immediately prior to First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech at the morning plenary session, titled “America’s Promise: The Impact of Health Care Reform.”

In 2009 and early 2010, PPFA and NLIRH worked tirelessly in support of the health care reform legislation, organizing thousands of phone calls, e-mails, letters and in-person meetings with members of Congress. President Obama signed the historic bill into law in March, increasing access to basic health care, including reproductive care, for women.

Now, PPFA and NLIRH are working to ensure that prescription birth control is fully covered under the new health care law, and will be talking to participants of the CHCI conference about this important goal.

“Providing prescription birth control with no co-pays or out-of-pocket costs will give women better access to the full range of reliable, safe and effective birth control methods,” said PPFA Director of Latino Engagement Destiny Lopez. “This will help to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and to keep women and children healthy. Women need to have access to affordable prescription birth control so they can plan their families as well as pursue higher education, their careers, and other aspirations.”

“The fact is that contraception is a critical component of both public health initiatives and women's health care,” said NLIRH Executive Director Silvia Henriquez.  “When health care reform passed, we were told that all men and women deserved access to affordable insurance coverage and preventative care. For millions of Latinas, birth control, by definition, is prevention.”

Held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on September 12–14, the CHCI conference included discussions on health and health care reform, immigration reform, education, the economy and several other critical issues. For more information visit www.chci.org, www.plannedparenthood.org and www.latinainstitute.org.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.