Planned Parenthood of Illinois Applauds Governor Pritzker for Rejecting Title X Funds

Chicago – Today, Governor Pritzker announced that the State of Illinois would refuse Title X family planning funding as long as the Trump-Pence administration’s gag rule is in effect.

Statement from Jennifer Welch, President and CEO Planned Parenthood of Illinois

“We are grateful to Governor Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ezike for their decision to not accept Title X family planning funding as long as the gag rule is in place. The relationship between a patient and their doctor is based on trust and honesty; the gag rule violates that trust and puts patients’ health at risk. Governor Pritzker is, once again, standing up to the Trump-Pence administration  because access to health care such as cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and treatment, and other family planning services should be available to anyone who needs them regardless of their ability to pay.

"Planned Parenthood of Illinois is committed to providing every patient who walks through our doors with the information and care they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. We are glad that the Illinois Department of Public Health is joining Planned Parenthood of Illinois in rejecting the grant because the gag rule is unethical. We look forward to working with the Governor’s office to ensure everyone in Illinois has family planning services available to them, no matter what.”

The medical community, public health experts, and the general public are against this rule. In addition to the AMA, 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.

Additional background on the gag rule

Title X in Illinois

In 2015, Illinois served 50,340 female contraceptive patients at Title X funded Planned Parenthood health centers. This includes 31% identify as Black or African American and 15% identify as Hispanic or Latino.

Planned Parenthood health centers make up 18% of Title X providers in Illinois, but services 42% percent of Title X. 

• PPIL serves 1 in 4 patients in Cook County that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center despite accounting for just 5% of publicly funded health centers that provide contraceptive care.
• In DuPage County, PPIL’s Aurora Health Center serves 65% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center. In comparison, the 6 FQHCs in DuPage serve just 35% of patients.
• In LaSalle County, PPIL’s Ottawa Health Center serves 99% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center; the 1 FQHC in LaSalle County serves just 1% of patients.
• PPIL is the only publicly funded health care provider in Tazewell County where patients can access contraceptive care.
• In McLean County, PPIL’s Bloomington Health Center serves 87% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center. In comparison, the 3 FQHCs in McLean serve just 13% of patients.
• In Peoria County, PPIL’s Peoria Health Center serves 59% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center. In comparison, the 1 hospital clinic serves 28% of patients, and the 3 FQHCs serve 13%.
• In Champaign County, PPIL’s Champaign Health Center serves 61% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center. In comparison, the 3 FQHCs serve 19% of patients and the 2 health department clinics serve 20%.
• In Macon County, PPIL’s Decatur Health Center serves 65% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center. In comparison, the 3 FQHCs serve 35% of patients.
•  In Sangamon County, PPIL’s Springfield Health Center serves 62% of patients that access contraceptive care from a publicly funded health center. In comparison, the 3 FQHCs serve 38% of patients.