Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio Strongly Condemns the Trump Administration’s Roll Back of Birth Control Coverage for 62 Million Women
For Immediate Release: Oct. 6, 2017
COLUMBUS, OH — The Trump administration has taken direct aim at birth control coverage for more than 62 million American women, eliminating the guarantee they had for coverage for birth control regardless of who they work for. This morning, they announced a sweeping new rule to eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that all insurance plans must cover birth control without a co-pay or otherwise ensure access to birth control coverage for women whose employers or schools can legally opt out of providing coverage.
Reproductive health care, including contraceptives, saves and improves women’s lives. The use of birth control has led to a 60 percent decline in maternal deaths, reduced unintended pregnancies, and opened new doors to women. Access to birth control in the United States has helped narrow the income inequality gap between men and women by as much as 30 percent during the 1990s alone.
Statement from Iris E. Harvey, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio:
“Today, the Trump Administration set back the clock for women and their families. When women can freely access birth control they have the power to achieve desired birth spacing and family size, which contribute to improved health outcomes for infants, children, women, and families. Access to affordable birth control should not be decided by a woman’s employer or the government, but instead must remain in her control. The rule proposed by the Trump administration today would change that, allowing any employer (nonprofit, small business, large corporation, private or publicly-held), school, or other entity to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage for religious or moral reasons -- a standard unprecedented in its vagueness.”
Unintended pregnancies occur among women of all incomes, educational levels, and ages. However, not all women have the same access to the reproductive health care and family planning services they need. Low income and women living in rural areas, women of color, and those living in medically underserviced areas are less likely to get the care their need. These disparities in reproductive health access, contribute to the continuing challenges faced by economically disadvantaged women in our society.
Last year, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGOH) facilitated 38,982 birth control visits for women in Ohio. PPGOH operates 19 health centers, serving 66 Ohio counties, offering services including birth control counseling, vital cancer screenings, well-woman exams, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.
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About Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. The mission of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is to protect, promote and provide empowered health care for generations of women, men, and families across Ohio. PPGOH serves approximately 64,000 patients annually throughout Ohio including metropolitan areas in Toledo, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Mansfield, Cleveland, Columbus, and Athens. www.ppgoh.org.