The following statement was issued by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains:
“As
the largest family planning provider in the state, serving
approximately 90,000 women, men, and teens across Colorado each year, we
are deeply saddened that the Colorado Reproductive Health Medicaid
Waiver application has been withdrawn thereby denying a significant
portion of Colorado’s low-income population access to essential health
care.
“Fifty-seven percent[1]
of our clients who pay out-of-pocket for their health care needs are at
or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. This waiver would
have granted that client base, in addition to thousands of Coloradans
age 19-50, access to family planning services under Medicaid.
“According to the Guttmacher Institute, since the mid-1990s, 22 states
had implemented a program to extend Medicaid coverage for family
planning services to residents on the basis of income, regardless of
whether they meet other requirements for Medicaid coverage, such as
being a low-income parent. Family planning services have been proven to
help women more effectively and consistently use contraception, reduce
STDs while increasing STD screening, increasing cervical cancer
screenings and reduced unintended and teen pregnancy rates. These
benefits, quite simply, make communities healthier and help women have
healthier families.
“Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains strongly supported the
legislation that authorized this waiver in 2008 which had bi-partisan
support. We have worked with state agencies, advocacy groups, and other
providers over the last three years to assist with planning for the
implementation of the waiver. While we are disappointed that the waiver
is not going to continue down the road we had envisioned and hoped for,
Planned Parenthood will continue to be here for the women, men, and
teens who count on us for affordable essential health care.”