Women's Healthcare: Second Shoe Dropping
On August 22, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the temporary injunction that kept Texas from excluding Planned Parenthood clinics from participating in the Texas Women's Health Program (WHP).
Planned Parenthood's lawsuit to stay in WHP is due to be heard in in federal District Court in October, and the 5th Circuit's decision means that the state can move ahead with removing Planned Parenthood clinics as providers while the lawsuit proceeds.
WHP provides preventive care, cancer and other screenings, and contraception to about 130,000 low-income Texas women each year, but does not provide abortions. Planned Parenthood clinics have been providing the preventive care to about half of WHP patients, and it is doubtful that the state can recruit enough active providers to fill the void.
This is the second big shock to preventive healthcare for low-income and uninsured Texas women. In its efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, the 2011 Texas Legislature already gutted the Department of State Health Service (DSHS)'s Family Planning program (see One Year Later, below). This two-thirds ($73 million) cut hit public hospitals, federally qualified community health centers, and small specialty clinics around the state. These are exactly the providers that could have been able to help serve more WHP clients - if they had not downsized or closed due to the DSHS family planning cuts.
Like many in Texas, members of the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) are distressed to see the women's healthcare safety net in tatters. About 1.4 million Texas women need basic preventive care, including access to contraceptives. Even before the cuts and loss of providers, Texas safety net was big enough to reach only about 1 in 5 of these women in need.
To our HFA coalition, it makes no sense to restrict access to preventive care and birth control. This short-sighted cutting of access to contraception will mean more unplanned pregnancies, with less prenatal care, more complications, and higher risks for Texas babies. These cuts also mean higher costs for the state, as taxpayers pay for the Medicaid deliveries, the NICU care, and the many health and social costs of unplanned pregnancies.
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One Year Later: Cuts Hurt More than Planned Parenthood
The 2011 Texas Legislature's decision to cut the state's family planning program by two-thirds was intended to affect abortion providers, but it has had devastating effects on many other health providers and their patients.
The deep cuts to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Family Planning program hit 146 clinics and closed 60 of them (only 12 of which were run by Planned Parenthood). Carolyn Jones' article in the Texas Observer tells the story of the devastating results felt by women around the state, for example, in San Saba, Levelland, and Bell County.
Basic services such as Pap smears, cancer and STD screenings, and contraceptives are no longer in place for low-income women in the areas where clinics have closed. Women in need of these services must either pay a private doctor or drive long distances to community health centers.
For many women in need, however, payment and travel are beyond reach. In addition, community health centers are struggling to keep up with the increased demand - often with less funding. For example, Midland Community Healthcare Services lost all family planning funding, making it difficult for this federally qualified health center to increase the number of women it sees for preventive care and birth control.
The Observer article details the reality of a women's-health safety net in tatters. Lack of access to preventive care is an urgent public health problem - one that the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA)'s 2013 State Legislative Agenda seeks to rectify.
You can join HFA to help advocate for restoring this critical funding. Click here to learn more about HFA and its activities. Join us! Planning and prevention are essential for healthy mothers and healthy babies. |
NPR looks at Teen Pregnancy
Despite declining teen pregnancy rates across the country, the U.S. still has far higher rates than other developed countries. On NPR's All Things Considered recently, Sarah Brown, CEO of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, credited teens for the historic rate decline: "They are having less sex, and those who are having sex are using better forms of contraception."
Brown points to similar rates of sexual activity as teens in other countries, but less use of contraception by U.S. teens. For our teen birth rates to continue to decline, it is critical that teens have access to most effective forms of FDA-approved birth control.
Teen pregnancy is linked to school dropout and poverty; lack of economic opportunity can, in turn, lead to pregnancy. Postponing pregnancy, along with getting more than a high school education, helps young people escape poverty.
The program featured Mary's Center in Washington D.C., which offers, along with counseling to pregnant teens, an afterschool program. Their holistic approach to teen pregnancy not only teaches about sex and contraception, but teens also learn about financial management and college preparation and receive tutoring. An increasing number of programs focus on youth development rather than solely on pregnancy prevention.
The broadcast also looked at Mississippi, the state with the highest teen birth rate, where the legislature requires school districts in the highest risk areas to offer evidence-based sex education. After a poll revealed that 92% of public school parents support sex education, the legislature changed its abstinence-only policy. Now school districts can choose abstinence-plus or abstinence-only. |
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The Benefits of Contraception
A new video from the Guttmacher Institute spells out - in English and Spanish - the benefits of contraception for women and their families:
Contraception helps young women postpone pregnancy until after they complete school or job training. It helps couples plan their pregnancies, and avoid a pregnancy too soon after the last one. Women who are able to plan their pregnancies are more likely to receive proper prenatal care and to breastfeed.
Nearly all American women use contraception at some point, including women of all races and religions. Contraception is highly effective, if used correctly.
However, cost can be a major barrier to a woman's choice of a contraceptive method, even if she has health insurance. The most effective methods, such as the IUD and implant, can have high up-front costs. The video points out that, under Health Reform, most insurance plans will cover FDA-approved contraceptives without deductibles or co-pays.
The bottom line is that contraception is essential preventive healthcare. "It makes for healthier mothers and children, and it reduces healthcare costs."
Access to preventive care that includes contraception is central to the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) 2013 State Legislative Agenda. Improving access and restoring funding for low-income and uninsured women is first on HFA's agenda. In addition, HFA seeks to protect coverage for insured women. Our coalition advocates for solutions that assure access to contraceptive coverage, while protecting the religious freedom of both employers and employees.
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Breaking the Silence: Oct 25
This year, the Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's annual conference will focus on practical ways to begin a healthy statewide conversation about teen pregnancy prevention. Breaking the Silence: Promoting Dialogue to Effect Changewill be held at the Texas State Capitol Building on Thursday, Oct 25, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Keynote Speaker Bill Bishop, author of The Big Sort, will explain why and how the U.S. has become so culturally and politically divided. Participants will also learn to use new prevention language, based on a scientific approach to measuring public opinion. The day will also include an opportunity to learn how to effectively talk with elected officials in the context of recent developments.
This is a great opportunity to learn how to be more effective in our efforts to reduce teen pregnancy. Space is limited, so be sure to register early.
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Healthy Futures of Texas is committed to reducing teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio
and Texas by providing and promoting science-based and culturally appropriate approaches.
We are working toward a community where every young person is able to reach their potential, and
every child is wanted, loved, and cared for.
2300 W. Commerce, Ste. 203
San Antonio, Texas, 78207
210.223.4589
info@healthyfuturestx.org
www.HealthyFuturesTX.org
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