FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2017
Contact: Audrey Sandusky, (202) 344-5805, asandusky@nfprha.org 

NFPRHA Warns House Bill Would Cripple Family Planning Safety Net

Statement from Clare Coleman, President & CEO of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA)

WASHINGTON, DC – “On behalf of the network of publicly funded family planning providers committed to ensuring high-quality, affordable, and accessible family planning and sexual health care for all, NFPRHA is deeply disappointed by the House’s passage of the fiscal year 2017 budget reconciliation package. This bill, if enacted, would deny affordable, high-quality health care coverage and access to care for millions of people across the country.

“This bill is ‘reform’ for reform’s sake. It would be disastrous for safety-net providers and the millions of people who rely on them for essential heath care every year.

“Remaking the nature of Medicaid coupled with blocking Planned Parenthood from participating as providers would cause devastating harm to the poor and low-income who have benefited from coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act. We have seen the significant difference that coverage expansion has on access to care, and we know the danger this bill poses – reducing access and barring trusted providers would set us on a downward spiral, leading to fewer people with coverage, fewer who get health care, even-greater increases in rates of sexually transmitted diseases and a reversal of the reduction in rates of unintended pregnancy.

“This House-passed bill must not become law.”

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NFPRHA is a membership organization representing providers and administrators committed to helping people get the family planning education and care they need to make the best choices for themselves and their loved ones. NFPRHA works to enhance the ability of thousands of nurse practitioners, doctors, and other health professionals to provide high-quality family planning care through training and advocacy. For more information, visit nationalfamilyplanning.org.