Planned Parenthood Through the Eyes of Texas Women

Planned Parenthood is asking Texans to support HB 2819, the Restore Medicaid WHP Bill. Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-141) filed the bill in the House on March 7.  The bill was last referred to the Public Health Committee on March 18. The bill would restore health care for tens of thousands of women and save taxpayers $40 million a year.

This year Texas courts held up legislation that would remove Planned Parenthood from the Texas Women’s Health Program that was implemented to replace the Medicaid Women’s Health Program. In 2011, the Texas State Legislature cut funding for the Family Planning Program by two-thirds leaving 130,00 women without access to basic health care as well as: breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control and other preventive health care.

Planned Parenthood has had to fight to remain open in Texas where over one million women are without health insurance. 

Planned Parenthood has built a advocacy campaign around the bill. They are asking people to contact their legislators in support of the bill. They have created an application that would send a message to legislators on the constituent’s behalf.

The message states:

“Please support Rep. Thompson's bill HB 2819 and all other bills that would restore the Medicaid Women's Health Program (WHP). Preventive health care is good for Texas women and good for the state. Every $1 spent on family planning saves the state almost $4 in Medicaid costs for prenatal, delivery, and first-year infant care.

Texans trust women to choose their health care provider. Planned Parenthood was vital to the success of the Medicaid Women's Health Program. Almost half of the women enrolled in the Medicaid Women's Health Program chose a Planned Parenthood health center to receive their basic health care through WHP.

Texas needs Planned Parenthood to keep Texas women healthy and save taxpayer dollars.

Put politics aside and support Texas women and Rep. Thompson.”

The video shown above, Planned Parenthood: Through the Eyes of Texas Women, highlights Texas patients who rely on health care from Planned Parenthood.