FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2021
Contact: Audrey Sandusky, (202) 344-5805, asandusky@nfprha.org
Biden Administration Reinforces Commitment to High-Quality Family Planning with DASPA Pick
Washington, DC – Today, May 10, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Jessica Marcella has been appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs, the administration official who oversees the Title X family planning and Teen Pregnancy Prevention programs. The following is a statement from Clare Coleman, President & CEO of NFPRHA.
“On behalf of the network of publicly funded family planning providers and administrators dedicated to ensuring high-quality family planning and sexual health care, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA) commends the Biden-Harris administration for choosing a highly qualified, well-respected Title X expert to lead its efforts to restore and rebuild the nation’s family planning program.
“Jessica Marcella has a keen sense of the challenges and opportunities facing the nation’s family planning safety net and a demonstrated commitment to elevating access, quality and equity in health care. Today’s announcement serves as a much-needed signal to public health stakeholders, the family planning provider network and the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice movement that this administration takes seriously its responsibility to address the significant challenges faced by individuals seeking essential reproductive health care services in our country.
“The work ahead is urgent, and Jessica Marcella’s appointment as DASPA is just one of many actions the Biden-Harris administration will take to not only repair the damages resulting from the siege on sexual and reproductive health by the previous administration but to drive necessary changes in our nation’s health care infrastructure.”
Marcella, who received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and master’s in public administration from George Washington University, most recently served on staff at NFPRHA for the last seven years. Marcella also worked in federal policy at The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (now Power to Decide), where she had a broad portfolio covering reproductive health, Medicaid policy, and community health care delivery.
The Office of Population Affairs within HHS administers the Title X program, which currently provides family planning and other preventive health care services to an estimated three million low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals and families each year who would otherwise lack access to care. It also administers federal Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program.
###
NFPRHA is a membership organization representing publicly funded family planning providers and administrators nationwide. NFPRHA advances and elevates the importance of family planning in the nation’s health care system and promotes and supports the work of family planning providers and administrators, especially those in the safety net. For more information, visit nationalfamilyplanning.org.