The purpose of this year’s Lobby Day is to lobby in support of SB-177, which would preserve and expand access to teen pregnancy and dropout prevention programs for Medicaid eligible youth. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy estimates that the cost of teen pregnancy to Colorado was $167M alone in 2004. This includes the cost related to Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), lost state revenue, child welfare, and incarceration.
Lobby day participants will also work to increase awareness and support for a program that funds breast and cervical cancer screenings for low-income women.
The Women’s Wellness Connection provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to women across Colorado who are uninsured or underinsured. As part of Figure-setting recommendations presented to the Joint Budget Committee, the WWC will experience painful reductions. In FY 2009-10, almost 17,000 women received cancer screenings through this program. With a reduction in funding, it is estimated that 5,100 women will not receive services and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment estimates that 85 cases of cancer might go undetected.
Any interested member of the public who support women’s health and reproductive choice is invited to attend Pro-Choice Lobby Day. RSVP to Tory Francies at 303.813.7776 or Tory.Francies@pprm.org.
