PPHP Calls on President Obama and Congress to Pass Health Care Reform with No Restrictions on Abortion

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014

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(Hawthorne, NY) - President Obama’s proposed path forward on health care reform will include the Nelson abortion provision that will result in women losing coverage they have today.

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) calls on President Obama and congressional leadership to fix the Nelson abortion provision as part of health care reform.

Reina Schiffrin, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic issued the following statement:

“As a trusted provider of health care to tens of thousands of women and families in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties, PPHP is committed to fixing our broken health care system and guaranteeing quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

“If the current Senate language introduced by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) is maintained, it would result in the most significant restriction in access to abortion coverage in nearly 35 years.  Under the Nelson provision, it is anticipated that most private health insurers would no longer offer coverage for abortion.  Since most women with private health insurance have coverage for abortion, the Nelson provision would take away coverage that women have now.  Congress must fix the Nelson provision as part of health care reform and guarantee that reform will not result in women losing benefits they currently have.

“Planned Parenthood is also deeply concerned about increased pressure by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) and his anti-choice allies in the House to reintroduce the Stupak abortion ban.  The Senate already rejected the Stupak abortion ban because women across the country spoke out in opposition to it.  The White House and congressional leaders must ensure that the Stupak ban will not be enacted through any legislative bill or amendment related to health care reform or any other legislative or regulatory vehicle.

“Nobody knows better than the health professionals in our health centers how urgently families need affordable, quality health care.  We cannot let anti-choice individuals and groups use the reform process to achieve their narrow political agenda to end access to safe and legal abortion in the United States.”

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Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc (PPHP) is the 16th largest affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and operates 12 medical centers in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. In 2009, PPHP provided services to over 35,000 patients in over 70,000 visits. We conducted nearly 1,600 education programs reaching nearly 32,000 youth and adults, and mobilized approximately 10,000 advocates to protect reproductive health care rights. PPHP has served the community for 77 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.