Protecting Women's Health
Imagine a New York that ensures every woman the right to make the decision that is best for her and her family. That New York is possible, with the passage of the Reproductive Health Act. This piece of legislation guarantees a woman's right to control her reproductive health; treats the regulation of abortion as an issue of public health and medical practice, rather than as a potential crime; and guarantees everyone the right to use or refuse contraception. Planned Parenthood is helping to lead the fight to pass this legislation.
- Learn more about abortion access (pdf)
- Learn more about the Reproductive Health Act (pdf)
- Read our Memo of Support for the Reproductive Health Act (pdf)
Safeguarding Funding for Reproductive Health Care
Recent strides in medical research — new methods of contraception, diagnostic tests, and immunizations — will ultimately save lives and money, but are very costly. Without an increase in family planning funding and Medicaid reimbursement rates, New York is in danger of creating a two-tiered health system: one for wealthy New Yorkers and one for low-income New Yorkers. Planned Parenthood works to increase funding for, and access to, these services so that all New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay, will benefit from these important public health advances.
Advocating for Comprehensive Sex Education
Young people must have access to honest, complete, and accurate information in order to make healthy decisions about their bodies and their relationships. Planned Parenthood supports the Healthy Teens Act to help schools and communities provide teens with real sex education and strengthen parent-teen communication. The statewide Get the Facts NY campaign is working to build support for comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education for New York's youth.
Ensuring Reproductive Health Care Is Part of New York State’s Health Care Reform
Planned Parenthood applauds New York’s efforts to reform the state’s health care delivery system and expand health insurance coverage in the state. As discussions and plans for reform advance, Planned Parenthood will work to ensure that women’s health care services are an integral part of the conversation. Reproductive health care services, including family planning services, are critical to the health and well-being of the women and families of New York. Expanding the reach of reproductive health services is smart public health strategy and vital to the fiscal health of the state.
Supporting Immigrant Health Initiatives
New York’s rapidly growing immigrant population faces many cultural, linguistic, economic, and legal barriers that complicate access to, and use of, all health care services including reproductive health care. Planned Parenthood works in coalition with other groups to support legislation and policies that will eliminate these barriers and expand language access and interpretation services in health care.
Promoting Access to Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception is a safe and effective means of preventing unintended pregnancies. Planned Parenthood will continue to support legislation and policies that reduce barriers to accessing emergency contraception. Planned Parenthood will also continue to support programs that increase awareness of emergency contraception as a method of preventing unintended pregnancy.
Click here for a PDF of our 2009 City Legislative Agenda.
Click here for a PDF of our 2009 State Legislative Agenda.
