Ninth Circuit Provides Emergency Relief for Millions of Title X Patients
For Immediate Release: July 3, 2019
The court’s order restores nationwide preliminary injunctions blocking Trump-Pence administration gag rule
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has blocked the Trump-Pence administration’s dangerous Title X gag rule. The court’s order provides much-needed emergency relief to millions of people who access birth control and other reproductive health services through the program.
Title X is the nation’s program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care, which serves four million people each year. Trump’s gag rule makes it illegal for health care providers in the Title X program to refer patients for abortion, and also blocks access to care at Planned Parenthood by imposing cost-prohibitive and unnecessary “physical separation” requirements. Title X helps millions of people struggling to make ends meet –– the majority of whom are people of color, Hispanic, or Latino –– access birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing, and other essential reproductive health care. Providers who serve nearly half of the patients who get care through Title X have made it clear that the rule would force them out of program –– the administration is putting health care at risk for patients across the country by pushing this rule to go into effect.
Statement from Dr. Leana Wen, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Today is a victory for millions of families across this country. This necessary relief will continue to allow people to access affordable birth control, cancer screenings, HIV tests, and other critical primary and preventive care available through Title X. However, this relief is temporary and we will continue to fight the Trump-Pence administration’s dangerous gag rule in court and in Congress to ensure our patients’ health and rights are protected.
On June 20, 2019, the 9th Circuit granted the request from the Trump-Pence administration to block the preliminary injunctions in California, Oregon, and Washington. Four judges had previously blocked the rule, with two judges blocking it nationwide.
One day before, the House of Representatives passed a spending package including strong language blocking the Trump-Pence administration’s Title X gag rule from being implemented. Now, the Senate must push for a spending bill that includes protective language to make sure millions of people can continue to access health care through Title X.
More background and information on the gag rule and the litigation can be found here.
The medical community, public health experts, and the general public are against this rule. In addition to the American Medical Association, the gag rule has been opposed by major medical associations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, as well as 110 public health organizations, and public health experts such as former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, and many others. A group of 19 different medical organizations, mayors, state lawmakers, over 200 Members of Congress, newly elected Democratic governors, and several other governors have opposed this legislation as well.
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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 600 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