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CONCORD - On Wednesday, July 27, contracts for family planning providers will be considered at New Hampshire’s Executive Council meeting, including for three reproductive health providers whose contracts were most recently rejected in January - Planned Parenthood of Northern New England; Equality Health Center; and Lovering Health Center. The agenda items for all Family Planning Program contracts are #15a-#15g.

The Executive Council voted 4-1 against contracts for the reproductive health care providers in September 2021, December 2021, and January 2022. Because of the votes, these providers have not received any state funding toward their family planning services, which includes STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and birth control, since June 30, 2021. In 2020-2021, PPNNE, Equality Health Center, and Lovering Health Center provided care to approximately 75 percent of patients in the New Hampshire Family Planning Program.

Statement from Kayla Montgomery, Vice President for Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England:

“The fact is, with Roe v. Wade being overturned, the reproductive health care landscape in this country is chaos. Ensuring access to critical preventative health care - including birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment - for our most vulnerable populations has never been more important. For over a year, access to affordable, quality family planning care has been in jeopardy for thousands of Granite Staters because of three consecutive votes to defund reproductive health providers. There has never been a more critical time for the Executive Council to approve contracts with all New Hampshire family planning providers.” 

BACKGROUND:

January 2022 Votes - The 24-Month Family Planning Contracts:

  • Agenda #13A - a total of $2,055,498 in Family Planning Program funding that helps pay for programs such as the sliding scale fee for patients seeking birth control, STD testing and treatment, and cancer screenings. This funding has historically been a part of the state of New Hampshire’s obligation in supporting better public health outcomes for lower-income individuals: 
    • A total of $1,020,329 in contracts were rejected for the three reproductive health providers:
      • Equality Health Center (Concord) - $558,395
      • Lovering Health Center (Greenland) - $336,934
      • Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (Claremont, Manchester, Keene, Derry, and Exeter) - $125,000

New Hampshire State Budget:

  • There is no provision in HB2 that requires physical separation of abortion services in order to receive Family Planning funding. The language is clear: here is Senator Bradley's introduction and explanation (video begins when he begins) of this new provision, which he introduced in this amendment) in the Committee of Conference. In the video, Senator Bradley says that this a moment of “trust, but verify” that commingling of funds is not happening and that he intended for funds to continue to go to reproductive health facilities, without delay. Prior to his amendment, Rep. Jess Edwards introduced an amendment that would have required physical and financial separation in order to receive state funds. However, Rep. Edwards’s amendment was not adopted.
  • In September, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services confirmed what family planning providers have been saying all along: that no New Hampshire family planning dollars go toward abortion care. DHHS stated unequivocally, multiple times, that the financial reviews, which took place over the course of the summer, clearly showed that no Family Planning funds have been used for abortion. This fact has been echoed time and time again, most recently on July 22 by DHHS officials at a Fiscal Committee meeting

NH Family Planning Program Impact:

  • New Hampshire has the lowest unintended pregnancies and teen pregnancy rates in the country and some of the best maternal health outcomes; the New Hampshire Family Planning Program is part of the network of care that supports these positive measures.
  • During an October Executive Council discussion over family planning funding, Councilor Cinde Warmington and DHHS Commissioner Shibinette highlighted the fragility of New Hampshire’s positive maternal/fetal health outcomes and the impact the defund votes could have. Full transcript here.
  • Since the last family planning vote, Roe V. Wade has been overturned, ushering rapid chaos and confusion for family planning clinics in this country. 
  • PPNNE made the decision to close the Claremont, NH health center in June. 

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Care Delivery:

  • In Fiscal Year 2022, over 11,000 Granite Staters relied on PPNNE’s New Hampshire health centers for high-quality, affordable health care
  • In November, PPNNE was named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices. 

Previous PPNNE Contract Votes:

  • Three times in recent years (2011 and 2015 and 2021), the care provided at local Planned Parenthood health centers was jeopardized when contracts were blocked by the Executive Council and state funding was interrupted. 
  • Then Councilor Chris Sununu was the deciding vote to defund PPNNE in 2015. 
  • Contracts were consistently approved between June 2016 and September 2021, with bipartisan support.

Governor Sununu’s Statements on the 2021 Defund Vote:

  • Governor Chris Sununu - press statement: “I brought these contracts forward because I support them, just as I have every year as Governor, because they protect women’s health and it is the right thing to do. Today's action to vote down funding like cancer screenings and other women’s health services is incredibly disappointing and not something I agree with.”

 

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Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. 

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care across the State of New Hampshire. We serve New Hampshire residents through 5 health centers in Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last fiscal year we saw more than 11,000 patients at these sites. PPNNE was named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.

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