Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada Applauds Gov. Sisolak’s Strong Defense of Title X

Reno, NV -- Today, Gov. Sisolak, in addition to nine other newly elected Democratic governors, signed a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar expressing his “deep concern” and opposition to the Trump-Pence administration’s new domestic gag rule. This rule makes it illegal for health care providers in the Title X program to refer patients for an abortion.

Statement from Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada:

“Nevadans made it very clear in November that they want more access to health care, not less. Governor Sisolak, and the newly elected Democratic Governors, heard that message loud and clear, which is why they oppose the dangerous Title X gag rule, which would block patients from accessing care and dismantle the nation’s birth control and reproductive health program. We thank Gov. Sisolak for his strong leadership and commitment to protecting access to care in Nevada. Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada will always fight to ensure our patients have access to sexual and reproductive health care, regardless of their income.”

About the Title X Gag Rule:

Major medical associations like the American Medical Association, National Medical Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, and others stand against this rule. In addition, more than 200 members of Congress and 100 public health organizations have come out in opposition to a gag policy.

The Trump-Pence administration’s gag rule targets care through Title X, a program which ensures more than four million people struggling to make ends meet can still access birth control, STI testing, cancer screenings, and other essential reproductive health care. There are two main provisions that will put health care access at risk for millions of people. In Nevada:

• This will harm communities of color, as the majority of patients in the Title X program identify as people of color, Hispanic, or Latino. There is already a massive divide between who does and doesn’t have health care in Nevada. This rule will only make it worse.

• This will leave people without health care. The nearly 11,000 patients in Nevada who get care through this program will be left with nowhere to turn. That means people who can’t afford health care or can’t find another reproductive health care provider because of the Administration’s ideological crusade to dismantle reproductive care in this country. More than 9 in 10 Title X patients were women

  • Nearly all patients were eligible for free or reduced cost care thanks to Title X program

    • 94% have incomes below 250% federal poverty level (FPL)

    • More than half have incomes below 101% FPL -- about $12,000 a year for an individual.