ICYMI: New Report Shows “Defunding” Planned Parenthood Would Devastate Health Care Access Across Wisconsin
Report Highlights Lack of Planned Parenthood Alternatives
Tanya Atkinson. Photo courtesy of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
MADISON – A new report from Health Management Associates (HMA) confirms that blocking access to health care at Planned Parenthood would have devastating consequences for its patients in Wisconsin. HMA’s findings thoroughly debunk Ryan’s claim that other providers can simply absorb Planned Parenthood’s patients. The report makes it clear that blocking care at Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin will have a devastating impact on those who already face far too many barriers to health care. The HMA study authors write, “There would be a significant family planning provider shortage for Medicaid enrollees in the state if PPWI health centers are no longer able to participate in the state’s Medicaid program.” Nearly 50% of the counties Planned Parenthood serves have no alternative health care provider for family planning services.
The report comes after a demonstration Wednesday at Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) Janesville office by members of the medical community, who know the important role Planned Parenthood plays keep the community safe, healthy and strong. Since Ryan’s announcement to end patient care at Planned Parenthood, more than 26,000 phone calls and nearly 180,000 petitions supporting Planned Parenthood have been directed to Ryan.
In response to the report, Tanya Atkinson, incoming President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin issued the following statement:
“This report makes clear what medical experts and PPWI have been saying all along: Speaker Ryan’s plan to end funding for Medicaid patients at Planned Parenthood would devastate people in his own state, putting 50,000 at risk of losing care in Wisconsin and leaving most of them without another provider.
“These patients already face tremendous barriers to accessing health care, and without Planned Parenthood, most of these patients will have no other health care provider to turn to, which increases their chances for undiagnosed cancers, STDs, HIV, unintended pregnancy and other poor health outcomes.
“Speaker Ryan is putting politics over health care. We urge him to listen to the medical community and the patients who rely on Planned Parenthood. Patients like Courtney Kessler of Madison, who has a history of ovarian cancer in her family and has depended on Planned Parenthood for cervical cancer screenings and contraceptives for seven years.
“We should all be able to agree that women deserve access to essential preventive care like cancer screenings, well woman exams and birth control. These are exactly the services that Speaker Ryan’s proposal would impact. As a health care provider who works every day to manage the health care needs of our patients, we know that Wisconsinites need more access points for health care – not less. This deeply unpopular and dangerous proposal will put the health and wellbeing of our patients at risk, which is why we will fight against it with everything we’ve got.”
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is a nonprofit health care provider caring for 60,000 patients annually at 21 health centers. 97 percent of Planned Parenthood’s care is preventive health services including well woman exams, breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, HIV screening, and STD treatment.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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