U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, senior White House Officials, and a diverse array of media, organizations, groups and stakeholders engage in an open dialogue about women's health care and the Affordable Care Act. June 7, 2012.
Showing posts with label Womens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Womens. Show all posts
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Mitt Romney: Out of Touch and Harmful for Women's Health
When women hear about Mitt Romney's plans for women's health -- in his own words -- they are appalled. Mitt Romney is out of touch and harmful for women's health in America. Planned Parenthood Action Fund will be making sure voters know exactly where Mitt Romney stands and will be mobilizing our more than 6 million strong network to fight for women's health come November.
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Tell him you're watching, take the pledge: http://womenarewatching.org/
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Rally in support of Texas Women's Health Program at Planned Parenthood in McAllen
A rally was held early Monday evening in support of the Texas Women's Health Program offered at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Julisa McCoy was a 23-year-old UTPA student who participated in the rally outside the McAllen clinic off Hackberry Street.
She's also 1 of about 6,500 women in Hidalgo County who relies on health services and contraception provided at Planned Parenthood.
"It's allowed me to seek the preventive and reproductive care that I need as a woman... as a young woman, without having to take on an additional load or responsibility which is a second job," she said.
Texas law bans Planned Parenthood from participating in the Texas Women's Health Program, federal-state Medicaid program for the poor, because the organization provides abortions.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the new Texas rule on Monday, citing it as unconstitutional.
Planned Parenthood's Hidalgo County CEO, Patricio Gonzales, says none of the clinics in the Rio Grande Valley offer abortions and calls the move to exclude the organization from funding, a political ploy.
"It does not subsidize in anyway...for that service... We can't even council on abortion with this program," he said.
"The injunction likely buys Planned Parenthood and the women they serve about 3 to 4 months before a judge rules again in the case.
The Texas Governor's Office has indicated the State will aggressively fight to keep that ban in place.
Catherine Frazier, Governor Rick Perry's Press Secretary sent this statement to Action 4 News: "Texas has a long history of protecting life, and we are confident in Attorney General Abbott's appeal to defend the will of Texans and our state law, which prohibits taxpayer funds from supporting abortion providers and affiliates in the Women's Health Program. We will continue to work with the Attorney General to pursue all available legal options."
There are fears an outright ban will burden an already fragile healthcare system and leave many of the 130,000 women enrolled in the program statewide with no basic health care and contraception.
"They would be displaced, they would not have a provider to go to," Patricio said.
Julisa has been using Planned Parenthood for the last four years.
"I don't know what I would do," she said in response to a possible ban. "I'd have to wait until the end of the month to see I have enough money... Or save enough money... Or just go without it... And it seems that more than likely it would be the latter."
The Texas Women's Health Program began in 2007 with the ban in place.
Texas only notified the federal government last year of its intent to begin enforcing the ban.
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Friday, April 27, 2012
Al Franken Cries When Discussing Women's Health
Sen. Al Franken cries when discussing women's health during a Senate hearing.Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Women's Health Experts Speak Out
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100% of male experts agree: nobody knows more about women's issues like birth control than late-middle-aged men and the Republican party is well aware.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Feds to stop funding Texas women's health program
HOUSTON (AP) — The federal government will stop funding a Texas health program that serves 130,000 low-income women because of a state law that bars abortion-affiliated clinics from getting public money, a top U.S. health official said Friday.
The federal money, which covers 90 percent of the state's $40 million program, will be phased out between May and September because the law violates federal regulations requiring that women have a choice in medical care, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said during a trip to Houston. That means the Women's Health Program will join a long list of programs nationwide on the chopping block because of their affiliations with Planned Parenthood or other groups that offer abortions.
The announcement came a day after Texas Gov. Rick Perry pledged to find state money to keep the program afloat, though details remain scarce about where the money would come from. Texas suffered massive spending cuts last year due to a $15 billion deficit, though a state health services official said Friday that Texas would prefer to increase its deficit than completely eliminate the program.
Perry blasted Sebelius' announcement, insisting Medicaid rules give states the right to determine which clinics are qualified to provide women's health care.
"The fact that the Obama administration would announce its decision to deny care for more than 100,000 low-income women during a press event before giving official notice to the state is a clear demonstration of the political motivation behind this decision," he said in a written statement, adding that Texas officials are still waiting for official word on the decision.
As is the case with other programs now in the national spotlight, the Women's Health Program provides cancer screenings, family planning and other women's health services. About 44 percent of women in the Texas program go to Planned Parenthood clinics, although none that accept funding from the program may perform abortions, and no federal funds are used to terminate pregnancies.
The problem in Texas is being caused by lawmakers' desire to prevent state funds from going to Planned Parenthood. The state is implementing a law that bars public funds from going to any programs, organizations or groups that are affiliated with abortions, even if they don't perform them.
After touring a hospital in Houston, Sebelius said the state law violates federal Medicaid regulations that require women be allowed to choose where they go for health care. Federal funds flowed to Texas under a waiver, but "we plan to let Texas know that that waiver will not be extended," Sebelius said.
The money will be phased out so women have time to find alternative care, she said.
The state was warned that implementing the law would jeopardize federal funding, and Texas chose not to immediately enforce it when it was passed, Sebelius added.
"They knew ... they are not allowed to deny women the right to choose," Sebelius said. "Women would be losing their doctor, their medical home, their choice."
Stephanie Goodman, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, said money to pay for the program would be diverted from others that are under budget — though she didn't offer specifics. If that doesn't cover the costs, she said, the state would increase its deficit to pay for the services because officials believe that if low-income women don't have access to birth control, the birth rate would rise and cost the state another $57 million in maternity bills.
Last year, Texas lawmakers slashed state funding for women's health and family planning programs by $73.6 million — cutting services to 160,000 women. They also took $10 million from a separate family planning budget line and shifted those responsibilities to organizations that administer Medicaid in Texas.
Now, with the expected cut in federal funds, "there's a huge gap in family planning" in Texas, Sebelius said.
State Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Houston, said she and members of Congress are negotiating with Sebelius and federal officials to find a way to ensure that the funds don't stop flowing.
And while Sebelius said her department has been trying to work with the state to provide a solution, she didn't indicate that would happen before March 14, when the state plans to begin enforcing the law.
"We have been working with Texas. We're eager to work with Texas to find a solution," Sebelius said. "But if Texas chooses to go down a road that violates the law, we really have no choice."
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Plushnick-Masti can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com//RamitMastiAP.
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Associated Press writers Chris Tomlinson in Austin and Angela K. Brown in Fort Worth contributed to this story.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The GOP Contraception Ban, Jeopardizing Women's Health
A Republican proposal in the Senate could ban the types of preventive health services, including contraception, to hard-working women across the country. Watch to learn more.
Friday, March 2, 2012
The GOP Contraception Ban, Jeopardizing Women's Health
A Republican proposal in the Senate could ban the types of preventive health services, including contraception, to hard-working women across the country. Watch to learn more.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Democrats Will Protect Access To Women's Health Services
Senators will fight to ensure women have access to the full range of preventative health services covered under the Affordable Care Act, including birth control. This press conference included Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D- WA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY).
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Battle Over Women's Health in Texas
During the recent controversy involving Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood, all roads led back to Texas. The Texas Tribune's Thanh Tan reports on why the state is essentially ground zero in the battle over women's health.
Democrats Will Protect Access To Women's Health Services
Senators will fight to ensure women have access to the full range of preventative health services covered under the Affordable Care Act, including birth control. This press conference included Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D- WA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY).
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Go Red To Support Women's Heart Health
40/29's Lauren Limerick has details on the day that are sure to touch your heart.Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Women's Health Advocates Lament Komen Decision
The nation's leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates.
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