Administration to Propose “Domestic Gag Rule” With Dangerous Implications For Access To Critical Preventive Health Services For Women

Press release

Administration to Propose “Domestic Gag Rule” With Dangerous Implications For Access To Critical Preventive Health Services For Women

May 18, 2018

Washington, D.C. —Today, according to reports, the Administration will announce its plans for a “domestic gag rule” that would strip funding from certain health facilities that provide high quality, affordable contraceptive services, and other critical health services. Specifically, it is expected that the rule would block Title X funds from any health center that also provides abortion unless abortion services are provided at a physically separate site. In addition, the rule would prohibit health providers at sites that receive Title X funds from providing patients with information about abortion, along with other options. In response, Ginny Ehrlich, CEO, Power to Decide, issued the following statement:

“If implemented, the rule would have a devastating impact on women’s ability to access quality health careespecially low-income women. The rule strips women’s access to high-quality contraception and related services such as STI screenings, Pap tests, and cancer screenings at the health centers they currently depend on.  Too often, these health centers are the only facilities available where low-income and uninsured women can access affordable contraception.

Today, more than 19 million women in need of publicly funded contraception live in contraceptive deserts, counties in which there is not reasonable access to a public clinic that offers the full range of contraceptive methods.  The domestic gag rule would only exacerbate this problem and make accessing birth control for low-income women even more difficult. 

At Power to Decide, we believe that all people, regardless of who they are, where they live, or what their economic status is, should have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant.  The Title X program is effective, enjoys bipartisan support, and has helped to contribute to the recent declines in unplanned pregnancy, which is now at a 30-year low. Dismantling the program would not only reverse the progress we have made but would also harm the most vulnerable among us. We call on the Administration to reconsider this harmful action and fully support the Title X program.”