Planned Parenthood strongly disapproves of HHS midnight regulation

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2014

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‘Refusal Rule’ puts women’s health in jeopardy

LOS ANGELES – Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA) joins women and principled health providers across the country in voicing its criticism for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s (HHS) dangerous midnight regulation issued Thursday that will put patient health care and rights at risk.

““By allowing individual providers to impose their version of morality, we open the door to the redefinition of common forms of birth control as abortion, this rule places barriers to quality, reproductive health care for all,” said Mary-Jane Waglé, CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. “This has a strong, negative impact on women’s health care, in particular.”

The new rule states that health care workers, including doctors, nurses and general staff, can deny patients basic information and services without the patient’s knowledge. For example, emergency contraception, a medication that can be taken by rape survivors to prevent pregnancy after an assault, could be withheld by emergency room staff who are oppose the use of birth control under any circumstances.

Additionally, PPLA warned that making access to healthcare even more difficult in a delicate economy puts everyone at risk and undermines the very basis of the health care system.

“Planned Parenthood is shocked that HHS would put forward such a dangerous rule at such a critical time in our nation’s history,” said Waglé. “With more than 45 million Americans currently uninsured, making access to health care even more difficult is a grave mistake. Low-income women and families already have limited options, and this rule puts them at even greater risk.”

Roughly 200,000 U.S. citizens, elected officials and medical and religious organizations submitted comments voicing their disapproval of misguided rule. By ignoring these comments the White House has overlooked those with the most knowledge and day-to-day interaction with patients in desperate need of accurate, quality health care. In addition, the rule provides absolutely no protection to ensure patients receive critical health care information and services.

Click HERE for more resources on opposition to the HHS midnight rule.

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ mission is to provide convenient and affordable access to a comprehensive range of quality reproductive health care and sexual health information, through patient services, education and advocacy.