Business & Tech

Planned Parenthood May See Elimination Of Federal Funding

In Delaware County, Planned Parenthood saw about 9,000 patients last year.

The estimated 3,500 patients seen at Planned Parenthood in Media last year may eventually have to find some place else to go if the elimination of all federal funding is passed in the Senate.

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to eliminate all federal funding for Planned Parenthood which is used for preventative family planning.

Congressman Pat Meehan (R-7th Dist.) voted to eliminate the federal funding. Patch did reach out to Meehan seeking a comment but unfortunately, he was unavailable by press time. 

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Maggie Groff, vice president of external affairs for the Southeastern Pennsylvania division of Planned Parenthood, said it’s clear the organization is being targeted because it is well known and it provides abortion services. However, no federal money is spent on abortion services.

The federal dollars are spent on contraceptives, cervical and breast cancer screenings and other women’s health services. Abortion services are paid for with private dollars, Groff said.

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"We’re following the law," she said. "(Abortion services) are fully separate and it’s perfectly legally."

Locally, about $1.5 million could be cut from the federal family planning program and that does not include Medicaid patients. 

Groff said the bill could defund any organization that provides subsidized planning, which would include hospitals and other organizations. But there is an amendment to the bill that would defund Planned Parenthood of all federal funding which would include Medicaid patients. About 30 percent of Planned Parenthood’s patients are on Medicaid, she said.

"It would cut off access for Medicaid patients and they are the ones who come to us the most," Groff said.

She said Planned Parenthood is being targeted because it provides abortion services but 90 percent of the services the organization provides are for preventative planning.

"Family planning is a regular part of women’s health," Groff said. "Every $1 spent on family planning saves $4. It’s fiscally responsible."

There are three Planned Parenthood health centers in Delaware County and about 9,000 patients were seen in the county last year. Along with Media there are centers in St. David’s and Yeadon. Planned Parenthood sees all ages of women come through its doors but the 18 to 24 age group is the majority coming into Planned Parenthood, Groff said.

"I can’t say today what would happen if this goes through but some health centers would likely close," Groff said. "I can’t say which ones would close but if they do, anyone in the community would be affected."

She said the more than 65 percent of patients who are considered low income would directly be affected.

"There are very few, or no other, places for them to go, depending on the area," Groff said.

Along with the federal money Planned Parenthood receives, its also funded by third party insurance providers, fees for service and fundraising.

"We wouldn’t be able to be totally funded by fundraising," she said. "It’s an important part of the program but that’s a significant amount we’d have to raise. Millions of dollars is just not possible. We’d clearly have to close health centers."

The next step in legislation is that the bill will go to the Senate.

Planned Parenthood is urging the public to call and write their government representatives, which would be Senators Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) and Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) in this area. There is also a petition at istandwithplannedparenthood.org and as of Wednesday the petition had 500,000 signatures.


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