By Teri Huyck and Judy Hartig-Osanka
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
Her story is all too common.
Megan has a part-time job and is a full-time college student — but she goes to a school without a campus health center. She, like 71,959 others, is a patient at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
“I come to Planned Parenthood because I don’t have the means to have my own insurance,” she explains. “My employer doesn’t offer it, and I can’t afford it, but Planned Parenthood offers all the services I need to be a responsible, healthy person.”
As Congress works to enact health insurance reform, it must keep in mind the millions of women who, like Megan, view reproductive health care as their most basic health care — and their reproductive health care providers as their most trusted health care professionals.Ninety-seven percent of the health care Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin provides is preventive and primary. Last year alone, we provided more than 337,000 units of FDA approved birth control methods, more than 22,000 annual exams, including cancer screenings, and nearly 64,000 tests for sexually transmitted infections.
Planned Parenthood health centers are part of an important network of community providers that includes local health departments, community health centers and independent family planning clinics. Essential providers like us serve as a critical entry point into the health care system for millions of women throughout the country.
Today, one in four women who receive contraceptive care does so at a women's health center. One in six who obtain a cancer-screening Pap test or pelvic exam does so at a women's health center, as do one-third of women who receive counseling, testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Six out of 10 patients at family planning health centers consider us to be their primary care provider.
The basic, affordable health care we and our partners provide is essential for women, particularly during difficult economic times. Consider that women of childbearing age spend a stunning 68 percent more in out-of-pocket health care costs than men, in large part because of reproductive-related health care. Health insurance reform cannot leave women like Megan behind.
Yet abortion rights opponents, who want to outlaw all abortions, are lying about health insurance reform in an attempt to advance that agenda. And conservatives, who want to derail health insurance reform altogether, are using false claims of “taxpayer-funded abortions” as a red herring.
None of the bills being discussed in Congress will force any American to purchase health insurance that includes abortion coverage if they don’t want it. None of the bills will undermine existing laws prohibiting federal and state funds from paying for abortions. None of the bills will force providers to offer abortion services. Instead, the current Congressional health insurance reform proposals will enable all Americans to purchase coverage that reflects their basic needs and their values.
Many media outlets have been parroting unfounded claims by abortion rights opponents that reform will expand access to abortion by mandating coverage of abortion. For example, the Racine Journal Times printed a letter last week by Barbara Lyons from Wisconsin Right to Life, alleging that health care reform will result in "taxpayer-subsidized abortions." In truth, none of the proposals mandate abortion coverage, or coverage of any other procedure for that matter. See factcheck.org for more information, and go here for an article about the abortion flashpoint.
Central to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s mission is the belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, high quality reproductive health care. Even though 98 percent of women use family planning at some point in their lives, abortion rights opponents and their supporters continually attempt to restrict women’s access to basic health care. In fact, they actually put up barriers to women’s access of birth control and STI prevention methods.
At Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, we remain committed to health insurance reform that prioritizes women’s health, promotes prevention-based health care and protects essential community providers, like Planned Parenthood.
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Teri Huyck is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin; Judy Hartig-Osanka is board chair.
How many abortions does PPW "provide" every year?
ReplyDeleteBy allowing contraception to people, it definately decreases the number of babies and children that are neglected, abused, mistreated, and simply left behind. I commend the parties that provide these services, and the people that seek them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for labeling this post OP-ED. In fact you might want to consider doing a lot more of this. So far the Post seems to be using this label with outside contributors. Why not be more forthcoming with articles written by Dustin and Pete?
ReplyDelete"...abortion rights opponents, who want to outlaw all abortions, are lying about health insurance reform in an attempt to advance that agenda."
ReplyDeleteThis is pure BS. There are two major factors in wanting to ban abortion on demand: 1) most conservatives and people with religious morals feel that killing a conceived human being is murder, and 2) those that feel it is not the government's place to use taxpayer dollars to pay for adolescent girl's indiscrections. The very first bill that Obama signed when he came to office was to sign the abortion rights bill. So, regardless of what the article says, federal tax dollars WILL be used to pay for these abortions. The bill even makes it ILLEGAL to notifiy the MINOR child's parents!
My position on the matter is this:
1. If a minor child gets pregnant she should carry the baby to term and put it up for adoption. There are so many childless families in this country that would gladly take a newborn. Then, relax the laws of adoption in this country so that people quit going to China to adopt, where it's much easier.
2. If a minor child (or her parents), or any pregnant woman, decides to have an abortion, it is their decision, and theirs alone. It is between them and their own consciences or moral beliefs, not the decision of the state or any government representative. In any event, taxpayer dollars SHOULD NOT be used pay for medical fees or abortion costs. It wasn't the taxpayers who spread their legs and were stupid enough not to use a contraceptive. People need to be responsible for their actions!
"...abortion rights opponents and their supporters continually attempt to restrict women’s access to basic health care. In fact, they actually put up barriers to women’s access of birth control and STI prevention methods."
This is more BS! Just because Planned Parenthood is targeted for the immoral act of fetal murder, does not mean they are being targeted for administering contraceptives or for STI prevention methods. That would be just as stupid as the idiotic claim made above about anyone wanting to "restrict women's access to basic health care." Planned Parenthood has its place and performs many good and needed services. But abortion (murder) is NOT basic health care.
It is also specifically stated in the socialist health care program that, if passed, doctors who have religious beliefs or ethical convictions of taking an oath to "do no harm" will be FORCED by Obama and his socialist minions to perform abortions. Plainly stated, that is mandating morality!
Planned Parenthood is a great organization. They provide so many services to women who have no other options. The most important of these services is good health and education. Their screenings limit the number of sexually transmitted diseases. They are also invaluable in limiting the number of unwanted pregnancies though contraception to women who could not otherwise afford it.
ReplyDeleteAbortion will exist whether or not it is legal or moral. Attempts to end pregnancies go back to ancient times. I would much rather that it didn't exist. However, if it must exist, it should be a last resort situation that is available in a manner that is clean and safe for the woman.
There are so many childless families in this country that would gladly take a newborn
ReplyDeleteThen why are there so many waiting in orphanages now?
Anon 7:13, I answered that question when I said, "...relax the laws of adoption in this country so that people quit going to China to adopt, where it's much easier." The adoption laws and requirements in this country are so severe and take so long that people are not willing to wait for years to get approved. Those that do get approval grab up all of the newborns and toddlers that are available. Those that, after waiting all that time for approval, find themselves waiting for a newborn or toddler, get tired of waiting and wind up adopting from outside the U.S.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:03 is absolutely correct in the assessment of Planned Parenthood. They do many things for women that would not normally be available to them, and providing basic health care when there is no place else to turn is outstanding. But, I don't think abortion (with the exception of the mother's life being at risk) qualifies as "basic health care." Pregnancy isn't something that just happens to women, it is a conscious choice to either get pregnant or ignore the many contraceptives that are available to her and accept the consequences of her decision. Does the man have any responsibility here? Yes. Condoms are available anywhere inexpensively or even free. But, the main responsibility lies with the women because THEY are the ones getting pregnant. And murdering fetuses is not the answer when there are so many couples waiting to adopt.
And under NO circumstances (again, short of a woman's life being at risk), taxpayer dollars should NEVER be use to pay for peoples conscious choice and indiscretions.
Pregnancy isn't something that just happens to women, it is a conscious choice to either get pregnant or ignore the many contraceptives that are available to her and accept the consequences of her decision.
ReplyDeleteNext time I am counseling a rape victim, I will be sure to tell her she failed by ignoring contraception during her rape.
You are a true tool.
You cannot make me believe that abortions will not be covered with the new health plan. I don't care if they write in plain modern English I still won't believe it.
ReplyDeleteI am not a rabid anti-abortion citizen. But if your lying about that what else are you lying about?
I will never believe it.
I beleive that before anyone can promote abortion, they must experance it for themselves or at least watch one. P.P. is a great orginization for the adults. Not so much for the unborn. But thats OK. The unborn are not "people". Like the blacks of early America and the Jews of WW2 Germany, the unborn are not ""People". Therefore have NO rights, makes sence to me.
ReplyDelete1. Anon 7:13 How many are waiting?
2.Anon 8:38 How many children are saved by abortion? With your resoning, we should kill all the neglected, abused, mistreated etc. children.
If a woman has a choice to end a pregnancy - there will be no "child" to be abused, neglected, mistreated or simply left behind and not cared for or nurtured. I would suggest that you look into foster parenting some of these poor victimized children that are victims of their caretakers poor choices, but I highly think with your attitude you would not qualify. (And spelling may count on your application.)
ReplyDeleteANON 8:38