The Trump-Pence administration has forced Planned Parenthood out of Title X, the longstanding federal program for birth control and reproductive health care for low-income Americans. Planned Parenthood is the largest Title X provider in the state, with health centers across the state. Title X funds have supported care for a million Minnesotans at Planned Parenthood health centers since the program was created nearly 50 years ago.
The Title X gag rule bans doctors in the Title X program from telling patients how they can safely and legally access abortion. Planned Parenthood providers refuse to comply with this unethical rule that prohibits doctors from giving women full information about all of their sexual and reproductive health care options. As a result, this week, Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country announced they have been forced to end participation in the Title X program and turn away this crucial public health funding. Despite this funding change, Planned Parenthood health centers in Minnesota remain open and continue to serve patients using a new sliding fee scale.
Minnesota leaders this week joined others across the country in voicing opposition to the Title X gag rule. Other opponents include major medical associations, like the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, 110 public health organizations, and public health experts such as former U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, and many others. This week, Catholics for Choice President Jon O’Brien also published this op-ed in The Hill, opposing the Trump-Pence administration’s Title X Gag Rule.
Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman
Press Statement: “This unethical gag rule will limit women’s access to health care, and Minnesotans should be able to access the health care they need without political interference. Reproductive health care is basic health care, yet in 2019, it is under constant attack. DFLers in the Legislature will continue working to make sure all Minnesotans can get the full range of reproductive health care they need.”
State Senator John Marty
Facebook @senjohnmarty: “The Trump Administration’s action to implement a gag rule on Title X, that prohibits healthcare providers from providing abortion referrals to patients, in an outrageous government intrusion into the doctor/patient relationship. This is a sad day.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey
Facebook @MayorFrey: “The Trump administration’s gag rule reflects a pervasive and cruel series of attempts to roll back decades of progress for reproductive rights. In our city, we remain committed to supporting our residents and Planned Parenthood, a remarkable healthcare provider and community partner.”
Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter
Twitter - @MayorCarter_: “The Trump Administration’s Title X gag rule is an affront to reproductive health rights and jeopardizes the ability of women and their families to access the care they need, when they need it, from the provider they choose. #StandWithPP #ProtectX”
Duluth Mayor Emily Larson
Twitter - @LarsonForDuluth: "I stand with Planned Parenthood’s withdrawal from the federal Title X program due to concerns over the “gag rule”. Politics has no place in an exam room & Duluthians need to know that their health center is open & available to them for the services they rely on. #StandWithPP #ProtectX”
Rochester Mayor Kim Norton
Facebook @kimnorton: "Planned Parenthood’s Rochester clinic receives Title X funding, which it uses to provide affordable care to almost 3,000 people in our community each year. This loss of funds will most certainly impact our local provider and might raise concerns about future services for their clients.
Despite this unfortunate news of Planned Parenthood’s loss of Title X funding, I have been assured that their health center in Rochester remains open and able to serve patients. I’m certain that this community, so deeply-rooted in providing excellent health care, will make sure that no one goes without affordable reproductive health care in Rochester."
Tags: minnesota