South Dakota Planned Parenthood Advocate

The Fiscal Cliff and Women’s Health

As we still await Congress to come to a solution for the impending fiscal cliff, do you know how the fiscal cliff and the impending sequestration could affect women’s health?

Specifics of what would be getting cut from programs aren’t clear, but the Title X family Planning program could be facing cuts.

Title X funding provides affordable preventive health care to more than 5 million people a year.

Title X isn’t the only program that could be facing cuts that affects women’s health either.  The Affordable Care Act is also at risk for funding cuts.

This would mean that some of the features of ACA that women are expecting to go into effect with thenew year could be delayed.

Even if a deal is met between Congress and the White House, cuts are still likely to happen, but won’t be across the board.

So what can you do to help fight to protect women’s health on the fiscal cliff? Make sure that your Senators and Congresswoman know what the priorities should be.

Women’s health is a priority. And they need to know that.

What We're Watching...

While this video is now a few weeks old and thankfully the bills brought up in it appear to have been stopped for now, this video is still a must watch.

In the Huffington Post Live video you will hear from Ohio Senator Nina Turner, Delegate Jennifer McClellan from Virginia House of Delegates, Emily Shaw a patient of Planned Parenthood in Ohio, and the President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Great Ohio, Stephanie Kight along with host Alicia Menendez.

In the segment they discuss the bill in Ohio that was seeking to defund Planned Parenthood. The “heartbeat” bill also was briefly mentioned.

The Team Roe Times January Issue!

We are excited to present to you the FIRST issue of The Team Roe Times in 2012, a joint project between Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and NARAL Pro Choice South Dakota!

Packed inside this informative newsletter are details on Women 4 Women Day 2012, updates on the 2012 SD Legislative Session and the 30th Roe vs. Wade anniversary, a list of upcoming events, the latest book in our TTRT Unofficial Book Club and SO MUCH MORE. Download The Team Roe Times Vol 2 Issue 1

Planned Parenthood's 95th Anniversary

In the past 95 years, Planned Parenthood has grown to be the nation’s leading women’s health care provider and advocate. There are nearly 800 Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide, providing health care services and information to millions of women, men and teenagers every year — and this is care that many of them would not be able to receive if not for Planned Parenthood.

Medicaid Cuts Would Harm Women’s Health

 

 

In an article for The Huffington Post, U.S. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) wrote that the “biggest casualty” in the initiatives to cut Medicaid and Medicare have been women’s health programs, especially preventive and reproductive health services, such as those that Planned Parenthood provides.

“Despite this, Republicans call for deficit reduction deals that would substantially cut Medicaid as well as Medicare and Social Security, and have a disproportionate impact on the health and economic security of women nationwide. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will be debilitating to women and families who rely on these programs to afford preventive and reproductive health services. This is no time to gouge a gaping hole in social safety nets that protect these communities from falling into poverty and poor health.”

These proposed cuts are following in the wake of Congress’ restriction of Title X funding, which supported family planning services and saved taxpayers “at least $3.4 billion in health care costs annually”.

Rep. Honda also notes that this trend has diffused into other levels of government, particularly California state government, and other local governments, whose budget cuts have withdrawn support for women’s health programs.

Read Rep. Honda’s full comments on the Huffington Post.

~ Kalie Caetano, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Statement of Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, on Politically Motivated Attack Against Planned Parenthood Affiliates Nationwide

September 27th, 2011 – “We are outraged that U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is putting politics before women’s health with a politically motivated Congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide. This attack is intended to undermine Planned Parenthood’s ability to provide essential health care services to the women, men and teens who rely on them. 

Across the nation, unemployment and poverty rates are rising and homes are in foreclosure. Instead of attending to the most pressing needs of families and working to create jobs, this congressional committee is using tax-payer dollars to target a non-profit health care provider whose mission is to serve the most vulnerable in this economy.   

Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider that provides professional, reliable and quality health care across the state. For over 20 years, South Dakota’s families have relied on Planned Parenthood for primary and preventive care such as annual exams, birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. 

As a trusted health care provider, Planned Parenthood routinely works with government regulators, nonprofit foundation donors, and independent auditors to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations regarding any funding it receives. In the rare instance when an irregularity is discovered, it is taken seriously and handled swiftly and appropriately.

Last year, Planned Parenthood provided basic health care to nearly 64,000 women, men and teens in the region, the vast majority of whom live at or below the federal poverty level and are without health insurance. Politically motivated attacks such as these will only increase the burden for those who can least afford it.”

CONTACT: Jen Aulwes
651.755.9557

‘Political Storm’ Over Women’s Health

If you watch the news (prime time or comedic) it should come as no surprise that government intrusion into women’s lives is at historical levels. As the nation’s leading provider and protector of women’s reproductive health Planned Parenthood has found its self at the epicenter of these attacks. The conservative right, under the guise ridding the US of abortion, is actively working to remove women’s access to birth control, pap smears, and breast exams. Attempts to close the doors of Planned Parenthood clinics could leave 11 million women and men across the country without access to their care provider.

 Listen to Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards powerfully and eloquently discuss the exponential growing attacks on women’s reproductive health over the course of the last year; attacks on a woman’s right to protect her health and plan her family.

~ Amy, ND Public Affairs Manager, Planned Parenthood Advocate

Budget Deal Preserves Nation’s Family Planning Program

After a campaign that rallied hundreds of thousands across the country on behalf of Planned Parenthood, congressional leaders reached a budget deal late Friday night that spared Title X, the nation’s family planning program.

“Common sense has prevailed, “said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. “A shutdown of the federal government because of an ideological standoff over Planned Parenthood would have been outrageous and shameful,” said Stoesz

Minnesotans joined women and families across the country to let congress members know that Planned Parenthood provides needed services, prevents unintended pregnancies and saves money.

“Hundreds of thousands of people came forward on our behalf during this very challenging time. We're very thankful to the patients who were willing to share the stories of the care they received from Planned Parenthood and how it changed their lives. We're thankful to donors, who redoubled their support. We're thankful to the elected officials who stood up for what was right. And we're thankful to each and every person who phoned, wrote and raised a hand for Planned Parenthood,” said Stoesz.

The groundswell of support was an inspiring reminder of our role as a needed and appreciated member of the community.

In Minnesota alone, more than fifty thousand women rely on Planned Parenthood’s Title X supported clinics each year for access to preventive health care such a cancer screenings and birth control.

Planned Parenthood’s Title X supported clinics provide an array of preventive health services, such as birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings; pelvic exams and pap smears, high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia screening; testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, basic infertility services, pregnancy testing and comprehensive health education.

“These clinics are part of the fabric of the communities they serve,” Stoesz said.

More than ninety five percent of Planned Parenthood's work involves preventive services that help women, families, and communities stay healthy.

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Contact: Kathi Di Nicola, 651.755.9557

PPMNS President and CEO on Proposal for Complete Elimination of Title X Family Planning Program

Today, the House Leadership launched its latest attack on women’s health by proposing to dismantle the nation’s family planning program. The House Leadership’s FY 2011 Continuing Resolution proposes to completely eliminate the Title X family planning program, which has connected millions of American women with health care since Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1970.

Title X began more than four decades ago as a federal, bipartisan, commonsense approach to ensure that low-income Americans have access to preventive and basic health care services. Title X clinics provide an array of preventive health services, such as contraceptive services; breast and cervical cancer screenings; pelvic exams and pap smears; high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia screening; testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV; basic infertility services; pregnancy testing; and comprehensive health education.

“The House Leadership has set its sights on abolishing a program that provides lifesaving preventive care to millions of women and saves taxpayers money by helping women plan their families. This is an extreme proposal, and the new leaders of the House are pushing it forward at great risk to women and at their own political peril,” said Stoesz.

“Congress should be doing everything it can to ensure that women have access to preventive care, not eliminating the very program that provides it.

Eliminating the Title X program means that tens of thousands of women across Minnesota will lose access to basic primary and preventive health care.

Title X services prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the number of abortions, lower the rates of sexually transmitted infections, and improve women’s health. The majority of Title X patients are uninsured; without Title X, many of patients would not receive any health care. Simply put, more women will get sick and be at an increased risk of undetected cancer if Title X is eliminated

Planned Parenthood Minnesota’s Title X services include ‘Well-Woman Care’ health education programs designed to encourage smoking cessation, reduce alcohol abuse, provide violence protection, and promote healthy eating habits. PPMNS has 16 Title X clinics throughout Greater Minnesota and 5 located in metropolitan areas of the state.

“Under the guise of cutting the budget, the House leadership is launching an all-out assault on women’s health,” The simple fact is, family planning programs like Title X save money. For every public dollar invested in family planning, taxpayers save nearly $4.

“The House Leadership’s proposal to eliminate the Title X program is bad policy, bad politics, and flat out immoral. That’s why we urge Congress to reject this dangerous proposal.”

A Profile of Patients Served at our Title X Supported Clinics

• 52,482 women and men received health care services

• 94 percent are women

• 94 percent of patients are 18 or over

• 61 percent have incomes at or below the federal poverty level

• 86 percent have incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level

• 42 percent are uninsured

• 37 percent receive public health insurance

• 2,236 patients have limited English proficiency

• 16,079 women received Pap tests through the Title X program

• 20,129 women received a breast exam through the Title X program

• 60,147 tests for sexually transmitted infections and HIV were conducted

 

Senators Franken, Klobuchar, and Johnson stand up for Planned Parenthood

After weeks of federal negotiations, funding still hasn’t been restored to Planned Parenthood. Republicans have focused on Planned Parenthood as one of their top targets this legislative session. In response to the partisan attacks on Planned Parenthood’s health services, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken of Minnesota and Senator Johnson of South Dakota, along with many other US Senators, signed a letter to signal support for the nation’s Title X family planning program and Planned Parenthood in the divisive budget battle. 

The letter argues that during this economic downturn, the care provided under Title X is more important than ever and without Title X, millions of women will face a greater risk for unintended pregnancies and diseases like cancer. The Senators also state that they “oppose the provision in the House-passed Continuing Resolution that cuts Planned Parenthood health centers off from federal funds used to provide cancer screenings, birth control, and other preventive health care services to three million Americans every year.”

Family planning care – such as the care found at Planned Parenthood – has been shown to save taxpayers more than $4 for each dollar spent. So, despite the rhetoric of the Right, stripping Planned Parenthood of its funding doesn’t even make fiscal sense.

We at Planned Parenthood applaud Senators Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken, and Tim Johnson for their support of Planned Parenthood. By signing the letter, they have thrown their weight behind Planned Parenthood and recognized the importance of our health centers providing crucial medical care for women and men on a sliding fee scale. So make sure to thank our Senators and remind them that we count on their support moving forward with the upcoming budget debate.

>Download the full letter

 

--by Kyle, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Advocate