Nationwide Domestic Gag Rule Issued Today Threatens Healthcare for Millions
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For Immediate Release: Feb. 22, 2019 (Updated: Feb. 22, 2019, 3 p.m.)
Planned Parenthood Condemns Trump-Pence Administration Attempt to Restrict Access to Title X Reproductive Health Care
LOUISVILLE – Thousands of Kentuckians’ access to health care is on the line as the Trump-Pence administration attacks the nation’s only family planning program. The domestic gag rule would change Title X funding to prevent medical providers from sharing information with their patients about the full range of options during pregnancy.
“This is bad news for anyone who can’t afford the rising costs of health care because the gag rule will dismantle the nation’s only family planning program meant to ensure that people with low incomes can still access birth control, STI testing, cancer screenings, and other essential reproductive health care,” said Lynne Bunch, Vice President of Patient Services for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky. “We stand in solidarity with the thousands of patients and their care providers who are affected by the gag rule.”
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services administers Title X funds in Kentucky and provided services to more than 50,412 patients in 2017 alone. Most patients (72 percent) were below the federal poverty line (less than $12,060 in income per person).
Once implemented, the Trump-Pence domestic gag rule would:
- Make it illegal for doctors, nurses, hospitals, and community health centers across the country that participate in the Title X program to refer their patients for safe, legal abortion.
- Impose new restrictions designed to make it impossible for patients to get birth control or preventive care from reproductive health care providers like Planned Parenthood.
- Remove the guarantee that people are getting full and accurate information about their health care from their providers. Title X law has been clear: Health care providers receiving funds cannot withhold information from patients about their pregnancy options. The Trump-Pence gag rule will reverse that.
- The rule also imposes cost prohibitive and unnecessary “physical separation” requirements on health centers that also provide abortion in an effort to stop Planned Parenthood from participating in Title X.These requirements could include forcing health centers to build separate entrances and exits, construct whole new health centers, or hire a whole second staff of doctors, nurses, and administrative staff. None of these requirements contribute to the health of patients.
The rule has been met with widespread opposition by the American people, the medical community, lawmakers, and public health experts. Polling from Hart Research Associates showed overwhelming opposition to the Trump-Pence administration’s efforts to take away women’s basic rights and health care. Major medical associations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, and others, oppose this rule. More than 200 members of Congress (see the Senate letter and House letter) and more than 110 public health organizations have come out in opposition to the gag policy.
“Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky will always be here for our patients and will continue to fight for everyone’s ability to get affordable, quality health care – no matter what,” said Bunch.