Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Applauds “Healthy Women, Healthy Babies” Initiatives in State Budget

Governor Tony Evers announced today his state budget will invest in women’s health by prioritizing access to preventive reproductive health care, programs that facilitate healthy pregnancies and births and eliminating racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.

“We all can agree that we want healthier communities and families, and that starts with making sure all women, regardless of their race, income or zip code, can get the care they need. We’re proud to support these measures and partner with the Evers administration to ensure healthier outcomes for women and babies in our state,” said Tanya Atkinson, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.

Among the proposals announced today, the Evers administration introduced statutory revisions that would change language barring Planned Parenthood from Title V and Title X eligibility to fund preventive care like birth control, cancer screenings, well woman exams and STD testing and treatment.

Blocking Title V funding from Planned Parenthood in the 2011-2013 biennial state budget forced the closure of five rural, family planning health centers, leaving more than 3,100 patients without a community-based reproductive health care provider. No other providers came into these communities to replace Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood provides more than 31,000 Title X patients with preventive care each year and serves 87 percent of the Title X patients in Wisconsin. The proposed statutory changes would repeal a state law aimed at blocking Planned Parenthood from providing care to Title X patients.

“We applaud Gov. Evers for championing women’s health and the lifesaving preventive care Planned Parenthood provides in his state budget. As the state’s oldest and most trusted nonprofit reproductive health care provider, we know these policies will positively impact our patients and are an important step in keeping Wisconsin safe, healthy and strong,” said Atkinson.

 

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. PPAWI engages in legislative and educational activity and works to elect candidates to office that support these goals.