SAINT PAUL, MN — This week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced plans to reverse the harmful Title X gag rule instituted by the Trump Administration that cut patient capacity nearly in half. This action follows the administration’s review of the harmful policy, initiated shortly after taking office.
Since its inception fifty years ago, Title X has always been a program that specifically and explicitly supported preventive care and contraception for patients; it does not fund abortion.
“We are so grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their leadership in restoring Title X funding for our patients, a crucial step to improving reproductive health care,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “Title X funding helps people with low incomes to access life saving care, like STI testing and cancer screening: the unethical gag rule decimated this important support for affordable reproductive health care. We stand ready to re-enter the federal program so we can again serve people who need our care across this region.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it will be issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking no later than April 15, 2021. Following an open comment period, HHS plans to issue a final rule by early fall and effective in time for the Fiscal Year 2022 funding announcement, which is expected to be issued in December 2021. Crucially important to this announcement is that HHS said it will propose revised regulations substantively similar to those issued in 2000—rules under which the program operated successfully for years.
Title X (ten), passed by Congress in 1970, is the only federal grant program dedicated to funding comprehensive family planning services for low-income Americans. Title X provides a range of essential preventive health services including contraception, STD testing and treatment, HIV testing, and breast and cervical cancer screenings
Before the gag rule, Planned Parenthood North Central States played a critical role in connecting Title X funding to people. PPNCS served approximately 53,000 Minnesotans and 17,452 people in Iowa with Title X funding.
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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high-quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 29 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 115,000 people and health education to more than 99,000 people in our region.
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