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Legislative Update: Prevention takes a Big Hit
The 82nd Texas Legislative Session ended on May 30, and the news for Family Planning (that is, for preventive care and birth control -- not abortion) is decidedly mixed. It is tempting to summarize the outcome as "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly," but it is not really over yet. On May 31, the Special Session called by Governor Perry began -- and that means that many things could still change. It is still vital for members and friends of the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) to keep our ears and eyes open for developments.
The Bad News from the regular session is that Family Planning funding was gutted: the House's $62 million cuts (from a total of about $100 million) remained in the final budget passed by both houses. This means a cut of two-thirds of the federal funds (Titles V and XX) that Texas' Department of State Health Services uses to provide screenings and birth control to low-income Texans. (Even with the "full" funding in the past, these funds were only enough to serve fewer than 20% of women in need.) These huge cuts mean that:
· 284,000 fewer women will be able to get low-cost or free birth control
· Texas will have over 20,000 more unplanned births
· Texas' share of Medicaid costs will go up by $98 million
The Good News from the regular session is that the Texas Women's Health Program (WHP) is still alive. A budget amendment (also called a Rider) continues this important Medicaid expansion beyond its "sunset" date of December 2011. WHP provides checkups and birth control (not abortion) to low-income women age 18-44 who would receive Medicaid if they were pregnant. WHP allows them to plan and space their pregnancies, and it also provides other preventive care.
The WHP "poison pill" designed to exclude Planned Parenthood clinics as WHP providers was not passed in the regular session. This legislative language would have ended WHP -- if Planned Parenthood successfully challenged their exclusion from the program. (For more on WHP renewal, watch the May 20 Texas Week with Rick Casey, with guest Dr. Janet Realini, Healthy Futures of Texas President.) How the WHP provider issue will play out is still unknown. The ability of the Health and Human Services Commission to exclude certain providers will likely continue to be at issue.
Other Bad News includes the death of bills to improve sex education in public schools. Rep. Joaquin Castro's "Education Works" bill (House Bill 1624) did not even receive a committee hearing. This legislation would have required school sex education, if offered, to be age-appropriate and evidence-based; to emphasize abstinence; and to include instruction on methods to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. This bill was endorsed by HFA in our 2011 State Legislative Agenda. With 94% of Texas school districts offering Abstinence-Only instruction -- and 40% of these teaching factual errors -- this was a huge missed opportunity for our state.
Thanks to all HFA members and friends who called and visited the Capitol, including those who appeared on short notice on May 25 to urge legislators to restore funding for Family Planning. Thanks to all the youth and adults who traveled to the Capitol with us on March 15 for Lobby Day.
Healthy Futures of Texas also sends a big THANK YOU out to all who called legislators to deliver HFA's pro-prevention messages. As one activist told us, "It only took me about 15 minutes to make all of the calls, but I felt like at least I was doing something instead of feeling angry and frustrated. I also plan to forward your email to all of my Texas friends." |
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The High Cost of Unplanned Pregnancy in Texas
Whoa! Texas taxpayers shell out a lot to pay for unplanned pregnancies! A new report from the Guttmacher Institute analyzes the public costs of providing maternity and infant care for women with unplanned pregnancies in each state.
Texas' bill is nearly $1.3 billion annually, with over $507 million of this coming from state coffers. (The rest is paid by the federal government.) The public costs for the U.S. as a whole are about $11 billion per year. This means that Texas' costs, at $1.289 billion, represent more than 10% of the nation's public price of unplanned pregnancy.
The report found that there were 179,500 births in 2006 from unplanned pregnancies in Texas. Three out of four (74%) of these unplanned births are publicly funded. Public funding covers a much lower proportion (49%) of Texas births that are planned.
The calculations were based on 2006 data, and estimated the public costs for births paid for by Medicaid and CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program). Taken into account are the costs of prenatal care, labor and delivery, post-partum care, and care of the infant for the first year.
Today's costs to the state are even higher. In 2006, it cost $9,728 for each birth. The Texas Legislative Budget Board estimates that the cost per birth rose to $10,630 in 2009, and it is certainly higher now.
And these are just the medical care costs in the first year or so. Most of the time, babies born from unplanned pregnancies come to be wanted and cherished and cared for-but not always. Their risks are much higher, for preterm birth, abuse and neglect, behavior problems, and a harder time in school. The higher risks for mom include violence, depression, dropping out of college, and single parenthood. For dad, chances are much higher that he will have a distant relationship with his child, drop out of college, and have both financial and emotional stress. Texas pays much more in social, educational, and medical costs down the road.
What does this all add up to? High fiscal costs to the state and high costs in human terms for our communities. Preventing unplanned pregnancy means substantial taxpayer savings, healthier babies, stronger families, and fewer abortions.
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Pimentel: Telling It Like It Is
O. Ricardo Pimentel is a new San Antonio Express-News columnist, but he has wasted no time in making the case for Abstinence-Plus (comprehensive) sex education for our youth. In his June 2 column, Pimentel points out that Texas has the third highest teen birth rate in the country, with Latinas at particularly high risk. Teen pregnancy means high rates of school dropout, poverty, and single parenthood and is an economic development issue for our community.
Pimentel rightly calls for urgent preventive action, including age-appropriate, evidence-based sex education. He warns that this column is his "opening salvo" on the issue of teen pregnancy. Healthy Futures of Texas wants to say a big "Thank You!" for focusing so clearly on what is truly a "winnable battle."
Welcome to San Antonio, Mr. Pimentel!
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ME NOW...baby later: Teen Leaders Needed
The ME NOW...baby later campaign looking for teens to help shape the campaign and get the word out to their friends. ME NOW...baby later is all about encouraging teens to take control over their lives so they can enjoy their teen years and become who they want to be. ME NOW is a project of the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA), Project WORTH, and Metro Health.
A teen mom recently shared her story with us: "I do not regret having my daughter I wish I would have waited to have her because maybe I could have gone to prom or gone off to college to join that sorority I always wanted too. Maybe I wouldn't be struggling to find a babysitter to finish college or to just get away for a little while to hang with my friends".
ME NOW is about getting an education, thinking about your goals and dreams, and having fun NOW. It's also about providing teens with accurate information so they can make healthy choices to avoid early pregnancy. It's about keeping our teens healthy.
We're excited about the great work our teen ambassadors are doing! Our teens help us promote the campaign and spread the word out about healthy behaviors to their friends, classmates and community. Our teens have been featured on radio ads, posters and even on the TV news for the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Press Conference.
TEENS: TAKE ACTION AND GET INVOLVED!
1. BECOME A TEEN AMBASSADOR
This campaign is really about teens! If you (or a teen you know) is interested in becoming a teen ambassador email us at JMoore@healthyfuturestx.org or give us a call at (210) 223-4589.
2. VISIT OUR WEBSITE (www.MeNowBabyLater.com)
Our website has tons of information about keeping teens healthy! Get information on how to prevent pregnancy, protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases, and where to get healthcare services. After you visit the site, spread the word and share it with your friends! Also find us on Facebook and follow us on twitter (@MeNowBabyLater) to find out what's happening over the summer!
3. SHARE YOUR STORY
We'd love to hear from you. A new story will be highlighted each month from a teen answering the question, What does ME NOW mean to YOU? Check out the "My Story" Section at www.MeNowBabyLater.com to submit your story. |
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HFA Meeting: June 22
Join us for the next meeting of the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) on Wednesday, June 22. We will hear about developments in the Texas Legislature, both in the regular session and the special session. In addition, we will discuss the Strategic Plan developed with the help of HFA member input in February-and how it relates to the Mayor's Initiative and SA2020.
There will also be updates on the evaluation of the R U Ready? materials that HFA developed last year for young adults, as well as a peek at HFA's new project for older teens and young adults.
HFA is a community coalition dedicated to reducing teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio. HFA has grown to 400 members, including community leaders, service providers, medical professionals, and community members. With both "pro-choice" and "pro-life" members, HFA is making its voice heard in San Antonio and at the Capitol in Austin.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 11:30 AM to 1 PM at the Community Room of the Mexican American Unity Council building, 2300 W. Commerce St., San Antonio 78207. A light lunch will be served. Please RSVP to MDelaGarza@HealthyFuturesTX.org.
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Thank You, St. Luke's Lutheran Health Ministries!
Healthy Futures of Texas is proud to announce a generous 2011 grant of $10,000 from St. Luke's Lutheran Health Ministries.
This funding will support Healthy Futures' educational programs for parents and teens. It will support parent empowerment workshops and sessions for low-income San Antonio teens.
This amazing gift will help assure that more parents are empowered to talk effectively with their teen about relationships and sex. It will mean that Healthy Futures can reach more youth to help them make healthy, informed choices about sex.
We are truly blessed to have such strong support from this wonderful foundation. Thank you! |
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Healthy Futures of Texas is committed to reducing teen pregnancy rates in San Antonio by providing evidence-based programs to young people and by providing workshops that empower parents to communicate with their teens about sex. We advocate for accurate and effective education and for increased access to health services, and we're working to create a healthy social norm regarding teen sexuality and parenthood.
Have questions or comments? Email us at info@healthyfuturestx.org. We want to hear from you! |
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Contact Information: Healthy Futures of Texas
address: 2300 W. Commerce, Ste. 203
San Antonio, Texas, 78207
phone: 210.223.4589
email: info@healthyfuturestx.org
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