Politics Over Policy: House to Continue Assault on Planned Parenthood in 2016

Washington, DC -- Last year, Congress led a full on assault on reproductive health care, taking 19 votes to restrict women’s health --- seven of which were specifically to block patients from accessing lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control and STI testing and treatment at Planned Parenthood’s health centers.

Today, in one of the first votes Congress has taken in 2016, House leadership is forcing through the eighth vote to block patients from accessing care at Planned Parenthood --- showing they have no plans of changing course from these attacks in 2016.

The reconciliation bill, which is expected to head to the President’s desk following final passage, includes a provision that would eliminate Planned Parenthood’s ability to receive reimbursement for the health care services provided under the Medicaid program and other federal programs. The bill would roll back the important and historic gains made for women’s health by the Affordable Care Act. The President has promised to veto the bill.

Quote from Dana Singiser, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs for Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Americans have heard it loud and clear: the Republican leadership’s obsession with banning safe and legal abortion in this country and attacking health care for millions of patients isn’t going anywhere in 2016.

“In one of the first votes of the new year, the House is voting to restrict access to lifesaving care and continue to target reproductive care, continuing to justify their attacks with a smear campaign built on lies. This is shameful. We need our leaders to put policy over politics and quit playing games with the safety, health and well being of millions.

“Seventy-five percent of Planned Parenthood's patients are low-income and often have nowhere else to go for care. They come to Planned Parenthood for services that can and do save lives --- like cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing and treatment, and a range of other preventive services. We will never stop fighting for women to have access to high-quality, compassionate health care."

Despite repeated false claims from politicians, experts have repeatedly stated that Community Health Centers (CHCs) do not have capacity to absorb Planned Parenthood patients cut off from care. America is already facing a reproductive health care provider shortage, especially Medicaid programs. Research and analyses have repeatedly shown that Planned Parenthood plays an outsize role providing family planning services for patients enrolled in publicly funded health programs in communities across the countries.