Statement from Melissa Reed, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone, on Trump vs PA Outcome

Today’s Supreme Court decision upholds the Trump administration rule that allows employers and universities to deny their employees and students coverage for contraceptive care based on a religious or moral objection. This is a poor outcome that will further restrict essential health care for millions of people that use birth control.

Everyone has a right to be safe and healthy. Birth control is critical, time-sensitive medication that treats serious conditions and allows people to plan if and when they get pregnant. It is unconscionable to limit health care when the nation is facing a public health crisis and extreme social unrest.

And let’s be clear on who will be most impacted by the rollback of birth control coverage: people of color and low-income communities. Under the Affordable Care Act, birth control coverage expanded for 62 million women, including 17 million Latinas and 15 million Black women. These are the populations also disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and systemic racism that polices the bodies of Black and Brown people. This decision will only make life harder for the very people who are keeping our economy afloat during this pandemic and fighting in the streets for the right to control their bodies and lives.

Employers have absolutely zero business deciding if birth control should be covered. Though there are a wide range of ideologies out there, an employer’s personal beliefs should not weigh upon whether or not people get access to essential health care. That is a personal decision that must be made by the individual. Planned Parenthood Keystone distributes over 26,000 contraceptives each year – I am deeply concerned that this ruling will prevent someone’s ability to make decisions about their own health care.

We need our leaders to expand, not dismantle, health care access. We will continue doing everything we can to provide affordable birth control access. If you want to learn more, give us a call or schedule an appointment today. To our patients and communities, please know that we are here with you, and will fight for you — no matter who you are or where you come from.

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Planned Parenthood Keystone (PPKeystone) is a non-partisan 501 c(3) organization that operates 9 health centers serving a 37- county region, providing essential health care services and sexuality education. Medical services include birth control, annual gynecological exams, STD testing and treatment, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and options referrals, abortion care, cancer screening and treatment, confidential HIV/AIDS testing, male services and more. Health centers are located in Allentown, Bensalem, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Quakertown, Reading, Warminster, Wilkes-Barre, and York. Visit www.ppkeystone.org. for more information. PPKeystone is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America – the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider.