Planned Parenthood supporters rally at the Capitol for family planning funding on first day of session

Over 400 Expected to Rally including 50 residents of Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer County to participate

ALBANY, NY (01/07/2011)(readMedia)-- Over fifty residents of Albany, Columbia, Greene and Renssealer Counties, including leaders, staff and volunteers from Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, will be part of an expected 400 who will rally at the state Capitol Monday morning to urge support for family planning funding in the state's 2011-12 budget. Activists are converging from around the state to discuss with their elected officials the important preventive and primary care provided by some 250 family planning health centers.

During their meetings, advocates hope to impress upon legislators the cost savings derived from New York's investment in these valuable health care services, not only in the same budget cycle but also long term. "We will emphasize to our many Assembly members, as well as Senators Breslin, McDonald, Seward and Saland, that for every $1 New York spends on family planning, $4 in Medicaid costs is saved," said UHPP President/CEO Patricia McGeown. "Plus, for every Medicaid dollar New York spends on family planning, the federal government reimburses the state 90 cents," she continued.

"We recognize the state's financial crisis and plan to work with lawmakers to find budget solutions that will maintain funding for our core services that our patients rely on to remain healthy," said McGeown.

-More details to come on Monday.-