Planned Parenthood Action Fund Calls on Romney to Denounce Surrogate’s False Claims that Affordable Care Act Would Harm Breast Cancer Patients

NOTE: In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union yesterday, Carly Fiorina, a prominent supporter of Mitt Romney and breast cancer survivor, compared the Affordable Care Act to the U.K. and Canadian systems, which she claimed “don’t focus on prevention and aggressive detection in the same way we do,” and that “the new protocols that have come down as a result of Obamacare would have been very deleterious to my personal health.”

Following is a statement from Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Mitt Romney should immediately denounce these claims, which are irresponsible and completely false.

“The Affordable Care Act will give millions of women access to cancer screenings and treatment. Insurance companies now have to cover mammograms and other preventive care, women can get cancer screenings without co-pays, and insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to breast cancer survivors.

“More women will be able to detect breast cancer earlier, get treatment, and live longer and fuller lives because of the Affordable Care Act. Instead of false claims from a campaign surrogate, Mitt Romney owes women an honest explanation for why he wants to take lifesaving benefits away.

“As a leading advocate for trusted providers of women’s health care across the nation, Planned Parenthood Action Fund knows firsthand the importance of preventive care for women and families. Nearly three million people a year rely on Planned Parenthood health centers for cancer screenings, birth control, and other preventive care. The Affordable Care Act is the greatest advance in women’s health care in a generation.”

Romney has said he would rescind President Obama’s policy requiring health insurance plans to include contraception without co-pays, and he has also said that Griswold v. Connecticut, the 1965 case striking down a ban on contraception, was not decided correctly. Additionally, Romney has pledged to “get rid” of Planned Parenthood, denying women access to birth control and cancer screenings; end the national family planning program, which provides preventive care to nearly five million women; and cut off access to birth control for women who need it the most. Romney also said he wants to see Roe v. Wade overturned, ending access to safe and legal abortion.