Planned Parenthood PA Advocates Statement on Title X Rules
For Immediate Release: Feb. 28, 2019 (Updated: Feb. 28, 2019, 5:21 p.m.)
Despite mass outcry from the medical community and the American people, the Trump-Pence administration today released a gag rule that undermines Title X, the nation’s program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care, and makes it illegal for health care providers in the program to refer patients for an abortion. This puts health care at risk for four million patients and keeps women from having information about all of their health care options. In Pennsylvania, this threatens care for more than 169,000 patients, 38% of whom are served by Planned Parenthood.
The majority of patients in the Title X program identify as people of color, Hispanic, or Latino, and it’s impossible to separate this attack on their health care from the other attacks this administration has leveled on families with low incomes and people of color — such as the “public charge” rule, voter suppression, and other attempts to “defund” Planned Parenthood. For people of color, the right to bodily autonomy and quality health care has been consistently under attack throughout this country’s history — leading to huge disparities in health outcomes between women of color and white women. Dismantling Title X will limit health care options even further and worsen the massive divide that already exists in health care.
Because of our commitment to ethical patient care, it would be impossible for Planned Parenthood to continue participating in the program. Planned Parenthood remains committed to ensuring its doors remain open for the patients who rely on the high-quality, safe, affordable, non-judgmental health care that they have come to expect from our health centers and our staff.
Quote from Sari Stevens, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood PA Advocates:
“Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates condemns this move by the Trump Administration to take away basic health care and the ability to make informed medical decisions from more than 169,000 patients in Pennsylvania, including more than 65,000 Planned Parenthood patients. Our doors will remain open. We must continue to protect access to Planned Parenthood for patients who need vital health care services including birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment.”
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