Release Date: May 15, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ana Sandoval, PPAC Communications
916.446.5247 x 115 or 916.712.6239
“Health care crisis waiting to happen”
Governor’s proposed family planning budget cuts
could cost the state millions in lost federal funds
SACRAMENTO – California Planned Parenthood affiliates are extremely disappointed with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal which cuts cost-effective family planning services and could cost the state millions of dollar in matching federal funds. The governor has proposed a $36.8 million reduction in reimbursement rates for family planning services.
“While the state may think it’s saving $36.8 million by cutting family planning services, California would, in fact, lose tens of millions in matching federal funds,” said Yali Bair, interim CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “California can’t afford to leave ANY federal money on the table.”
The cuts affect California’s Family PACT program, which serves as a model for the nation and is extremely cost effective. For every dollar California spends on family planning, the state draws down a $9 federal match. And for every TOTAL dollar spent on family planning ($9 federal plus $1 state), California saves an additional $5.33 in future medical and social service costs associated with unintended pregnancies. FamilyPACT has saved the state more than $2 billion since its inception, according to a University of California San Francisco analysis of the program.
This rate reduction could also have dramatic health care implications. Prior to 2007, our health centers were turning away 10,000 patients each month because we lacked the funds to serve them. Now with the economic downturn an additional 70,000 new patients are coming through our doors – women and men who recently found themselves out of work and uninsured.
“That’s more than 100,000 Californians who would not have access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, contraception, STD testing and treatment and primary and prenatal care,” Bair said. “Family planning is basic health care for millions of women. This is a health care crisis waiting to happen.”
The proposed cuts could force Planned Parenthood to drastically reduce hours and cut essential health care services to uninsured and underinsured men and women at a time when they need it most.
“Women spend more than 30 years of their lives managing their fertility, so access to family planning services means access to core preventive health care services like breast and cervical cancer screenings,” Bair said. “In fact, nationally 6 in 10 women enter the health care system through family planning providers like Planned Parenthood.”
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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s nine separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and comprehensive sex education.
