For Immediate Release:

July 26, 2007

Media Contact: Andrea Gage

414-289-3750
414-213-3717 (cell)

Conference Committee Urged to Value Women’s Health by Supporting Preventive Health Care Programs
Health Care Advocates Urge Budget Conference Committee to Restore Family Planning Funding

Madison, WI- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI) today joined the Wisconsin Values Event in Madison to urge the state budget conference committee to craft a budget that values Wisconsinites’ access to quality and affordable health care. Access to a range of health care services has been put at risk for tens of thousands of women as a result of the Assembly Budget passed earlier this month. Among other detrimental provisions, the Assembly budget eliminated state funding for 32 private family planning providers, including 10 Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin facilities.

“Eliminating state funding for private family planning providers will result in eliminating access to preventive health services such as cervical and breast cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment and access to birth control for approximately 30,481 low-income Wisconsin patients, many of whom reside in more rural parts of Wisconsin,” said PPAWI Vice President of Public Affairs Lisa Boyce. “It’s fiscally irresponsible and a slap in the face to the Wisconsin women, men and families who count on these critical, prevention-based services.”

Wisconsin women are in need of family planning services, which include birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Out of the 300,500 Wisconsin women in need of publicly subsidized family planning services, only 93,000, or one-third of this population, are receiving these services because of funding limitations.

The cuts don’t just jeopardize health care, they cost taxpayers more money:

• These cuts could compromise $13 million dollars the state receives from the MCH block grant program and could result in the state spending an additional $8.3 GPR on Medicaid funded births because women may not have access to family planning services.

• For every $1 spent on family planning health care services, the state saves approximately $3 that would otherwise be spent on Medicaid funds for unintended pregnancy-related and newborn medical care.

The Assembly budget also prohibits county health departments that do not have the resources to provide family planning services from contracting with private entities if that other entity complies with its ethical obligation to provide all options pregnancy counseling. All options pregnancy counseling includes non-directive information about all pregnancy options, including continuing a pregnancy, adoption and pregnancy termination.

“This budget doesn’t add up, in terms of dollars or sense,” said Boyce. “We call on our legislative leaders to stand with us in saying enough is enough – Wisconsin women and their families need and deserve access to affordable health care. We are looking to you to value women’s health and save taxpayers’ money by restoring access to these health care programs as proposed by the Governor, Joint Finance Committee and state Senate.”

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI). The mission of PPWI is to empower all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health through direct services, education, and advocacy.  www.ppawi.org