Turns Out, the Price was Wrong

Planned Parenthood: “Tom Price never should have been nominated as health secretary, and his short tenure proved why. From day one, this administration has attacked women’s health and rights. At every turn, American women have paid the price.”

WASHINGTON D.C. - On Friday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned amid allegations of misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Please find below a statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America on his resignation:

Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

Tom Price never should have been nominated as health secretary, and his short tenure proved why. As secretary, Price appointed officials who do not believe women should have access to birth control; he also robbed evidence-based, comprehensive sex education programs of their funding and carried out repeated attacks on women’s fundamental rights to access health care. From day one, this administration has attacked women’s health and rights. At every turn, American women have paid the price.

“Though Price may be gone from this administration, this administration’s anti-women’s health agenda remains. HHS is still rife with officials who disagree with a woman’s fundamental right to decide if and when she’ll have a family. We’ve already seen this administration move toward ending health insurance coverage for birth control, making it more difficult to enroll in health care, and even toward prohibiting doctors from giving women information about birth control and abortion.

“It’s time for this administration to listen to the vast majority of women and people across this country, and protect their basic health care, rights, and access to birth control.

This announcement comes amid reports that the Trump administration is taking aim at the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit, which has provided over 57 million women with no-copay birth control.

Sec. Price has been attacking women’s health care and the Affordable Care Act since he was in Congress. He is an ardent opponent of both and has helped to lead bills that undermine both issues on several occasions. Sec. Tom Price not only wanted to prevent Planned Parenthood from serving patients who rely on Medicaid, but he falsely believes that ‘not one’ woman has ever struggled to afford contraceptives.

Reports affirm that the majority of Americans do not want the government to attack no-copay birth control or access to safe, legal abortion, or to defund Planned Parenthood. The president of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that “some of the bills [Price] supported in Congress would not serve women’s health well.”

###

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.