Changes to the Title X Family Planning Program Threaten Access to Essential Sexual + Reproductive Health Care

Essential Access Health President + CEO Julie Rabinovitz
Addresses Harmful Title X Regulations Posted Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2019
Contact: Amy Moy, amoy@essentialaccess.org, 415.518.4465

“The regulations posted today by the Trump administration represent some of the most extreme policy shifts in the history of the Title X family planning program. These changes counter clinical best practices and established medical ethics standards.

“If implemented, the regulations could devastate California’s Title X provider network and result in increased wait times and delays in patient access to time-sensitive care throughout the state.

“Women should be able to count on their medical providers to give them complete, unbiased information about their health options and have access to the reproductive health services they want, when they need them.

“For nearly 50 years, the Title X program has been a critical part of our public health system, providing a pathway for low-income and uninsured women, men, and teens to receive care that supports their ability to plan their families and futures. Title X has also played a significant role in reducing unintended pregnancy rates to historic lows.

“The Trump administration has chosen to disregard and undermine Title X's record of success and push forward regulations that will deny women quality care at diverse health settings.

“California is home to the largest, most comprehensive Title X provider network in the nation. Title X funding supports the delivery of high-quality family planning services at community health centers, city and county health departments, Urban Indian health centers, rural health clinics, universities, Planned Parenthood affiliates and stand-alone women’s health clinics that collectively serve 1,000,000 low-income individuals each year.

“The regulations threaten to reverse decades of public health advancements. They are harmful, unlawful, and inconsistent with Title X’s mandate to make comprehensive family planning services available for all.”

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