Unless Ninth Circuit Intervenes by August 19th, Planned
Parenthood Will Be Forced Out of Title X Program
Planned Parenthood today informed the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that unless it intervenes, Planned Parenthood entities who are Title X grantees will be forced out of the Title X program by August 19th thanks to the Trump Administration’s unethical gag rule –– putting access to affordable birth control at risk for people in South Florida and across the country. Planned Parenthood health centers serve 40 percent of the 4 million Title X patients, and have been a part of the Title X program since its inception.
“This rule threatens to take away quality, affordable reproductive health care and information from millions of people,” said Stephanie Fraim, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. “The Trump-Pence administration is shamelessly dismantling the nation’s family planning program, which helps ensure people with low incomes can still access birth control, STI testing, cancer screenings, and other essential reproductive health care.”
“Trump’s gag rule is a direct attack on anyone who can’t afford the rising costs of health care,” she added. “All patients, regardless of income, deserve access to the best medical care and information possible.”
The medical community, public health experts, and the general public oppose the gag rule. In addition to the American Medical Association, it is opposed by major medical associations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, and many others.
“We stand with the medical community in opposition to these gag rules,” said Lillian Tamayo, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida. “Because of our commitment to ethical patient care it would be impossible for us to continue participating in the program.”
“We’re not going to be bullied into withholding critical abortion information from our patients by complying with Trump’s unethical and dangerous gag rule,” Tamayo added. “But we will continue fighting for every Floridian’s ability to get affordable, quality health care.”
Please visit fappa.org for more information.
Impact of the gag rule
- In Florida alone, Title X serves approximately 150,000 patients. This rule directly impacts these patients, denying them accurate, comprehensive health care information.
- In addition, the Trump-Pence administration’s gag rule prevents agencies from working with providers who offer abortion care, disrupting the network of health care safety net providers. That’s bad for all patients.
- Every year, more than 1,000 teens in Palm Beach County receive services from Planned Parenthood with Title X dollars.
- Nationally, Planned Parenthood health centers serve 41 percent of all Title X patients.
