Planned Parenthood Blasts Cassidy-Graham-Heller Proposal
For Immediate Release: Sept. 13, 2017
Worst ACA Repeal Bill Yet; Proposes to Defund Planned Parenthood
Washington, DC – Planned Parenthood Federation of America strongly opposes the latest version of Trumpcare. The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal is the worst ACA repeal proposal yet. Americans have repeatedly rejected every other version of Trumpcare.
The Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal includes a provision that would block millions of people from going to Planned Parenthood for preventive care, including birth control, cancer screenings, and STD testing and treatment.
The Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal also fails the “Jimmy Kimmel test” that Sen. Cassidy himself set as a baseline. In June, Jimmy Kimmel tweeted a reminder to Sen. Cassidy that "No family should be denied medical care, emerg or otherwise, because they can’t afford it." By gutting Medicaid, the Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal would put health care out of reach for millions of families.
Statement by Dawn Laguens, executive vice president at Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
The Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal is the worst ACA repeal bill yet, and it is especially terrible for women.
“The Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal would disproportionately impact low-income women and women of color.
“It blocks women from getting preventive care at Planned Parenthood. It slashes Medicaid, which 1 in 5 women of reproductive age rely on for care, including birth control and cancer screenings. It guts Essential Health Benefit protections, including maternity coverage and prescription drugs. Thirteen million women could lose coverage to maternity care under this bill. And it raises premiums on millions more by eliminating tax credits.
“With this latest version of Trumpcare, Americans will pay more and get less, but women will pay the biggest price of all.
“Graham-Cassidy-Heller, like every other version of Trumpcare, makes it harder to prevent unintended pregnancy, harder to have a healthy pregnancy, and harder to raise a family.
“Slashing Medicaid, ending maternity care, and blocking millions from getting preventive care at Planned Parenthood would result in more undetected cancers and more unintended pregnancies.
“At every step of trying to repeal the ACA, Republican leaders have chipped away at women’s health and rights. The Graham-Cassidy-Heller proposal is just most of the same.
“Congress should listen to the American people, reject efforts to take away care, and focus on bipartisan fixes to expand access to care.
###
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood affiliates serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.