ACOG Condemns Senate Vote to Exclude Qualified Providers from Providing Care to Women through Title X

Washington, DC—The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s passage of H.J.Res. 43 that would allow states to exclude qualified providers from participating in the Title X program:

“The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is deeply disappointed in the U.S. Senate’s passage of H.J.Res. 43, allowing state politicians, for the first time, to discriminate against women’s health care providers for reasons unrelated to qualifications or best practices and disqualify health centers, including Planned Parenthood, from providing Title X contraceptive and preventive care to more than four million individuals.

“Congress has done a great disservice to low-income women and adolescents who rely on Title X health centers to access comprehensive care, including family planning and contraceptive care. Not one penny of Title X funding is used to pay for abortions. Instead, every dollar spent on family planning and contraceptive care saves $7 in public health funding and helps reduce the rate of abortion. This legislation hurts low income women and sends a hefty bill to U.S. taxpayers.

“Restricting women’s choices and access to comprehensive care will only increase rates of unplanned pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and undiagnosed medical conditions. This would be a devastating reversal of our nation’s current 30-year low for unintended pregnancy and historically low rates of teenage pregnancy. Our success reducing unplanned and teen pregnancies is due in large part to increased access to contraception for our patients—often through Title X clinics.

“Additionally, this legislation sets a dangerous precedent by allowing politicians to pick and choose providers based on politics rather than professional eligibility.

“Decisions about women’s health care should not be rooted in partisan politics, but should focus on increasing access to safe, effective, and timely care for all women. Congress has missed an opportunity to show the American people that it is truly committed to increasing access to care for all. We urge the president to stand by his comments on the campaign trail when he said, “I cherish women. I want to help women,” and veto this harmful resolution.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), a 501(c)(3) organization, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of more than 58,000 members, The College strongly advocates for quality health care for women, maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members, promotes patient education, and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women’s health care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(6) organization, is its companion organization. www.acog.org