Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Opposes Cuts to Women’s Health Services

Augusta (ME) – Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) testified today in front of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services in opposition of the proposed 10% cut to provider payments in MaineCare in Governor Baldacci’s FY ’10-’11 supplemental budget.

“In 2009, PPNNE served over 11,000 patients in five sites in Topsham, Portland, Biddeford, Sanford, and at Southern Maine Community College,” said Chris Quint, Senior Public Affairs Director for PPNNE.  “As a MaineCare provider, the proposed cut would be detrimental to our ability to serve the women and families most in need.  In 2009, 20% of those we served, 2,216 patients, relied on MaineCare. For many of these patients, the health care we provide in our health centers is their sole source of routine health care.”

State cuts to family planning support have even greater impact because of the link to federal funding.  Currently, for every dollar of state funding to family planning is matched by $9 dollars from federal funds. 

“At a time when so many Maine citizens struggle to afford necessary health care services, cutting state funding to a program that brings in such significant money from the federal governments would be a tremendous disservice to those we serve.”