Planned Parenthood Joins Senator Hillary Clinton and Congresswoman Nita Lowey In Criticizing Bush Administration Plan on Women’s Health
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
25,000 messages opposing draft rule sent to President Bush
New York, NY — Planned Parenthood joined with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) at Bellevue Hospital in New York City today to express outrage over a draft Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that would deliberately confuse contraception with abortion and put political agendas ahead of patients’ needs.
“Family planning providers know the importance of open communication between patients and health care providers,” said JoAnn M. Smith, president and CEO of Family Planning Advocates of New York State, which represents Planned Parenthood statewide. “The proposed rule would put patients in jeopardy by allowing providers to withhold critical health information without telling their patients.”
The draft HHS rule would allow institutions and individuals to deny women some of the most effective forms of birth control and withhold information from patients about their contraceptive options.
“We know that prevention is the key to reducing unwanted pregnancies. But instead of putting prevention and sound science first, the Bush administration is once again putting ideology first and trying to block access to family planning services. We should be doing everything we can to make sure all women have access to the health care they need, not undermining women’s health, and I will fight to stop these dangerous plans,” said Senator Clinton.
Representatives of Planned Parenthood affiliates from across New York State also expressed outrage at the draft HHS rule.
“At a time when more and families are uninsured and under economic assault, President Bush is fueling the health care crisis by denying women access to quality, affordable care,” said Reina Schiffrin, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic.
“This politically motivated change deliberately confuses contraception with abortion, putting ideology before science,” said Joan Malin, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City. “Women must be fully informed of their contraceptive options to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their families.”
In addition, Planned Parenthood has generated more than 25,000 messages to President Bush expressing opposition to the draft HHS rule which would compromise women’s health.
Birth control is basic health care for millions of women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 98 percent of sexually active American women have used a method of birth control (Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics, Number 350, December 10, 2004).
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.