Statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America Vice President for Government Relations on Study Demonstrating the Unique and Critical Role that Women’s Health Centers Play in Improving Health Care Access

New data published in the November issue of the journal Women’s Health Issues finds that four out of ten women who receive care from a women’s health center report it was their only source of health care over the past year.

In addition, nearly 60 percent of women surveyed report that while they had visited other medical providers in the past year, they chose to go to women’s health centers for women’s primary care — including birth control — for a variety of reasons, including expertise and quality of care.

The following is a statement from Dana Singiser, Planned Parenthood Federation of America vice president for public policy and government relations:

“This new data reaffirms the critical role that women’s health centers like Planned Parenthood play in delivering high-quality preventive health care to women across this country. Forty-one percent of women report that these health centers are their only source of health care.  This data builds on previous research showing that six in ten women who access care from a women’s health center consider it to be their main source of care.

“The report also illustrates that women’s health centers are preferred by the majority of women surveyed who have the option of accessing women’s primary care elsewhere.  The survey showed that while six out of ten women surveyed had another current source of care, they chose to go to women’s health centers because of the knowledge and respect among staff, and the quality of care provided.”

“Through the Affordable Care Act, 12.8 million women of reproductive age will become newly eligible for insurance, making women’s health centers like Planned Parenthood more important than ever in ensuring health care access for communities across the country.”