City Officials Collaborate to Produce Study on the Negative Impacts of Reduced Access to Reproductive Health Care
[COLUMBUS
– OH] Dismantling Title X will have negative repercussions that reach far
beyond the health of women, children, and families, according to City of
Columbus Auditor Megan Kilgore and Councilmember Elizabeth Brown. Its impact can strain and
destabilize the economy.
In
a jointly authored study, Kilgore and Brown have identified economic benefits
of broad access to reproductive healthcare services. The study also highlights
the reduction in available services that would result from limiting Title X
funding to health centers in Ohio.
“This
is Economics 101,” said Kilgore. “Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio serves
59,000 Title X patients. If the Trump-Pence administration takes away access to
health care for these 59,000 Ohioans, we will see immediate, harmful
repercussions to the financial viability of these individuals, as well as to
Ohio’s labor-driven economy.”
The
Title X program provides access to contraceptive care and reproductive health
care for low‐income, uninsured, and underinsured
individuals. Planned Parenthood is the sole Title X provider in nine Ohio
counties: Athens, Lucas, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Summit, Trumbull,
and Wayne.
The
White House recently announced changes to the Title X Family Planning program.
The changes would block certain health centers from receiving funding to
provide screenings for cervical and breast cancer, screenings and treatment for
STIs, testing and links to care for HIV/AIDS, infertility services, family
planning and contraception services as well as screening for high blood
pressure, anemia, and diabetes.
“Women
and families who rely on these vital health services often do not have any
other options outside of a local Planned Parenthood,“ said Brown. “Maintaining
Title X funding for these centers not only improves access to care and health
outcomes; it helps families achieve economic self-sufficiency.”
In
Ohio, Planned Parenthood serves 63% of patients who receive care under Title X
funding, while the Ohio Department of Health receives and allocates funding for
the additional services provided.
Click here to view the report.
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