Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Outraged at Assembly Bill to Defund Family Planning Health Centers, 5/24/11

As a leader in reproductive health and rights, New York will never allow Assemblyman Katz to take us back in time.

(Hawthorne, NY) - Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) today called a bill to defund its health centers and other family planning health centers that offer abortion services, as part of comprehensive reproductive health care, dangerous legislation that New Yorkers will never stand for.

New York State Assemblyman Steve Katz (R-99) has introduced legislation that would prohibit Planned Parenthood and any organization whose care includes abortion services from receiving state funding (A. 7841). “Care to nearly 70,000 Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic patients will be in jeopardy if this bill passes,” said Reina Schiffrin, President/CEO, PPHP. “As a leader in reproductive health and rights, New York will never allow Assemblyman Katz to take us back in time.”

A survey conducted by Hart Research in 2009 showed that New York voters strongly back state funding for programs that support reproductive health care and family planning services for low-income or uninsured people in the state. Voters overwhelmingly maintained that these programs should be financed even in the face of budget shortfalls. At that time, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of those surveyed had a favorable view of the state’s current family planning funding and grant programs.

Family Planning Services Saves State Money

This attack on women’s health care will not reduce the state’s budget gap at all. The funds still will be spent—just not to Planned Parenthood and other efficient family planning health centers around the state. In fact, this restriction on funding will cost the state money.

For every $1 spent on family planning funding, nearly $4 in Medicaid costs is saved. And, for every Medicaid dollar New York spends on family planning, the federal government reimburses the state 90 cents. A cut in family planning funding, therefore, will result in shortfalls in the current budget and an increase in the budget gap in 2012-13.

One of the targets of this attack, the family planning grant program, provides funding that enables Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic and other family planning health centers to serve patients on a sliding fee scale. Not only is the sliding fee scale important to uninsured patients, but it is also important to those who are working and have insurance but cannot afford care because of the high co-pays and deductibles. These funds support the provision of annual exams, screenings for breast and cervical cancer, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, birth control counseling services and much more.

Hospitals, Private Physicians to Lose Medicaid Reimbursement, too

Assemblyman Katz’s legislation will not only affect Planned Parenthood and other family planning health centers, it will affect hospitals and private physicians that accept Medicaid insurance. If these entities provide abortion care, the hospital or physician will be prohibited from receiving payment from Medicaid for any health care services, including such crucial health services as annual exams, breast exams, Pap smears and contraception.

New Yorkers and Planned Parenthood health centers around the state will not stand for restrictions on access to comprehensive reproductive health care.

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Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc (PPHP) is the 15th largest affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and operates 12 medical centers in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties.  In 2010, PPHP provided services to over 35,000 patients in nearly 70,000 visits.  We conducted 1,900 education programs reaching over 35,000 youth and adults, and mobilized approximately 10,000 advocates to protect reproductive health care rights.  PPHP has served the community for 78 years, and is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to make responsible choices regarding their sexuality and sexual health.  Planned Parenthood has done more to reduce the incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy than any other health care provider or advocacy group.  PPHP is headquartered in Hawthorne NY. For more information about PPHP services and programs, visit www.pphp.org. Find us on Facebook and MySpace, and follow us on Twitter