News and Stories: Planned Parenthood of Indiana Stunned by Defunding Amendment; Clarifies Consequences
Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is stunned that State Senators voted today in favor of an amendment to prohibit the state from contracting with, or granting to, the organization. An amendment to HB 1210 includes language from HB 1205 in its entirety. That bill was never voted on in the House, nor was its equivalent, SB 20, heard in the Senate committee to which it was assigned.
HB 1210 will, by all accounts, make Indiana one of the most anti-choice states in the country. PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum asserts that in its current form, HB 1210 will also make Indiana one of the most anti-woman states in the country. Today’s defunding measure puts the preventive health care of 22,000 Hoosiers at risk.
“If lawmakers wish to reduce the incidence of abortion, as we all do, they should put their energies elsewhere,” said Cockrum. “This measure will eventually cause abortions to rise in Indiana because of the reduced access to birth control it will create. It may take several years for the increase in unintended pregnancies to show up on the State Department of Health records in the way of more abortions, but it will happen. There is no doubt. Taking away the $3 million in federal family planning and Medicaid funds that PPIN receives means low-income women and men will have reduced access to birth control, STD testing and treatment, Pap tests and breast exams. It is basic preventive health care, available at PPIN locations across the state. Not a penny of this money goes toward abortion.
“It is an abomination that lawmakers continue to engage in counterproductive discussions and actions when it comes to public health policy in our state. It is unfortunate that anti-choice zealots are comfortable misrepresenting the truth about this funding and how it is used. It is unfortunate that they continue to tell untruths about PPIN. If they want to reduce the number of abortions, it makes no sense to make birth control harder to get for thousands of Hoosiers who rely on Planned Parenthood of Indiana for their preventive health care. PPIN has been in existence for nearly 80 years – surely that speaks to the need for its services and the quality of care provided,” said Cockrum.
“It is particularly offensive that the bill contains an emergency provision. Proponents may argue all day long that there are other providers, but rest assured, there is no chance they will be there for PPIN’s patients anytime soon, especially for those who already have appointments booked,” Cockrum continued.
Hoosiers have been speaking out in record numbers in favor of Planned Parenthood in recent months. More than 500 Hoosiers rallied at the Statehouse on March 8 to urge lawmakers to protect Planned Parenthood of Indiana’s patients.
Just last week, the U.S. Senate voted to protect federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
The federal grant funds that are in jeopardy if HB 1210 were to become law are used at eight of PPIN’s health centers in northwest and rural southern Indiana. These centers are located in Gary, East Chicago, Michigan City, Elkhart, Bedford, Seymour, Scottsburg and New Albany. Even with the federal funding these eight centers operate at a net loss of more than $90,000. PPIN makes up the difference through private fundraising.
The proposed legislation would also eliminate Medicaid reimbursements for patient services at health centers around the state. PPIN estimates that if funding were eliminated, the state could pay an additional $68 million in Medicaid expenses because of reduced access to contraceptives and the resulting increase in unintended pregnancies. PPIN serves a total of 85,000 patients at its 28 health centers around the state each year.
The full Indiana Senate must still vote on the amended measure.
