Planned Parenthood Condemns Legislature for Playing Politics with Women’s Health: Urges Governor Crist to Veto Bill
For Immediate Release: May 19, 2014
West Palm Beach – Today, the Florida House passed HB 1143 by Representative Matt Hudson (R-Naples) restricting women’s access to reproductive health care without vetting the legislation through a single committee or allowing an opportunity for public comment. Planned Parenthood urges Governor Crist (R) to veto HB 1143, which interferes with private medical decisions and restricts private health insurance plans from offering abortion coverage.
“This legislation will result in more women receiving less health care,” said Lillian Tamayo, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast. “This bill does nothing to prevent unintended pregnancy or reduce the need for abortion.”
HB 1143 strips doctors of their ability to act in the best interest of their patients, and forces physicians to perform ultrasounds even when it is not medically appropriate or goes against the professional judgment of the physician.
The bill also restricts businesses that receive tax credits from providing their employees with health insurance that covers abortion, even if they don’t use federal or state subsidies to purchase their plans. This amendment goes far beyond the Hyde Amendment and even the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by prohibiting abortion from being covered in private health insurance plans.
Planned Parenthood urges Governor Crist to veto this legislation that wedges the government between doctors and their patients and causes women to lose health care coverage that they currently have today.
“It’s time for the Florida Legislature to stop playing politics with women’s health and start paying attention to the needs of women and families in this state,” said Tamayo.
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The mission of Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast is to provide comprehensive sexual health care through the provision of clinical services, education and advocacy. We do so by understanding and responding to the needs of those seeking our services, and by protecting and respecting the essential privacy rights, dignity and culture of each individual. www.ppsoflo.org
Source
Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, Inc.
Contact
Contacts
Judith Selzer 561.472.9940
Published
April 30, 2010