Bush Administration Rule will Force Major Cutbacks in Family Planning and other Community Health Care Services

Congress Urged to Block Hostile Rule and Provide Temporary Fiscal Relief through Medicaid

ALBANY, NY (09/08/2008)(readMedia)-- Just as health care providers in New York State were reeling from the double combination of state budget cuts and a new federal rule that could require dramatic changes in employee practices, another larger threat has been issued by the Bush administration. Another new draft rule is now in its final review. The New York State Governor’s office estimates that implementation of this rule could reduce federal support for community based health care providers by more than $350 million.

Family planning providers are just one of the many targets of this new rule. Others impacted will include dialysis clinics, developmental disabilities clinics, and substance abuse counseling and mental health clinics.

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood has joined with other family planning providers, as well as health care advocates from across the state, in an urgent appeal to members of Congress to stop this policy through an immediate moratorium.

“The proposed federal rule would be devastating to women and families who depend us for basic preventive health services,” said Patricia A. McGeown, President/CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. UHPP provides critical reproductive health care services, including annual exams and cancer screening, vaccinations, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and birth control information and supplies to over 11,000 Capital Region residents each year,” McGeown reported. “At a time when so many are uninsured, it makes no sense to force a dramatic cut back in the provision of preventive care—care that enables women and families to prevent unintended pregnancy and plan the time of their parenthood; care that allows for early detection and treatment of cancer, HPV and other sexually transmitted infections. It is the women and families of New York who will suffer—and the costs will be far greater in the long run.”

The proposed rule is currently under review by the federal Office of Management and Budget. The rule – and the letter signed by more than 100 New York health care organizations opposing it – can be viewed at www.fpaofnys.org.

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