National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

NAF issued this press release today:

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) denounces the appointment of Dr. Susan Orr as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA). DASPA oversees Title X, the nation's family planning program, which provides high-quality family planning and preventive health care services to over five million low-income individuals annually.

This appointment raises serious concerns, as Dr. Orr previously served as the Senior Director for Marriage and Family Care at the Family Research Council (FRC), an organization that has advocated for limited access to contraception. She currently serves on the board of directors for Teen Choice, a nonprofit organization, which advocates for abstinence in lieu of contraception.

During her time at FRC, Dr. Orr spoke out in support of President George W. Bush’s proposed elimination of the contraceptive coverage requirement from federal employees’ health insurance. In 2001 she said to The Washington Post, “We’re quite pleased because fertility is not a disease. It’s not a medical necessity that you have [contraception].”

This is not the first time that President Bush has made a controversial appointment to this critical public health post. Last year, Bush appointed anti-birth control advocate Dr. Eric Keroack, who had previously managed Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) in Massachusetts, to this position. CPCs are designed to discourage pregnant women from seeking abortion care, and in many instances they misinform and intimidate women to achieve their goal. Dr. Keroack resigned in March 2007 following public outrage.

"This is just another example of the Bush Administration promoting politics over a sound health policy. Dr. Orr should not be entrusted with the oversight of the federal family planning program and the health of millions of Americans," said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of NAF. "For more than 35 years, the Title X program has been a hallmark of quality preventive care, enabling practitioners to provide family planning services to low-income individuals."

Labels: access, anti-choice, Contraception, crisis pregnancy center (CPC), Eric Keroack, Title X

The New York Times ran an editorial today about Dr. Eric Keroack’s appointment and recent resignation as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services. We were seriously concerned and opposed to Keroack’s November appointment given his history as the Medical Director for a chain of crisis pregnancy health centers that do not distribute, encourage the use of, or offer referrals for contraceptive drugs and devices. The editorial affirms that “Keroack was always a disturbing choice to lead the federal office that finances birth control, pregnancy tests, and other health care services for five million poor Americans.”

Last month Keroack resigned after Medicaid officials took action against his practice in Massachusetts.

Labels: Eric Keroack, Medicaid

Representative Slaughter (D-NY) and Representative DeGette (D-CO) introduced the Prevention First Act in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. Passage of this Act would improve women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health care services; fund medically accurate sex education and pregnancy prevention programs for teens; and increase federal funding for Title X, the nation’s family planning program.

Title X is the only federal program designed to fund family planning and reproductive health care services. More than 5 million low-income individuals annually take advantage of these preventative health care services. However, the Bush Administration has repeatedly attacked the Title X program. In addition to inadequately funding the program, last year Bush appointed anti-birth control ob-gyn, Dr. Eric Keroack to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs, which oversees the Title X program.

The Prevention First Act calls for funding for a public education campaign focusing on emergency contraception (EC), and requires emergency rooms to provide victims of sexual assault with EC. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Reid (D-NV).

Labels: access, Contraception, Eric Keroack, federal legislation, Title X

Keep the pressure on the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, and let him know that family planning must remain a priority! Sign NAF’s petition and urge him to reconsider Dr. Keroack’s appointment and select a candidate whose goals and positions are consistent with Title X’s mission to provide high-quality family planning services to millions of Americans.

>View NAF’s press release denouncing the appointment of Dr. Keroack

Labels: Eric Keroack

Saporta: “Dr. Keroack should not be entrusted with the oversight of the Title X program and the health of millions of Americans.”

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) today denounced the appointment of Dr. Eric Keroack as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA). DASPA oversees Title X, the nation’s family planning program, which provides high-quality family planning and preventive health care services to over five million low-income individuals annually.

This appointment raises serious concerns because Dr. Keroack is currently the Medical Director for A Woman’s Concern (AWC), six crisis pregnancy health centers located in the Greater Boston Area. Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are designed to discourage pregnant women from seeking abortions, and in many instances, they misinform and intimidate women to achieve their goal. Dr. Keroack’s support of biased counseling is troubling given Title X’s long-standing commitment to medically accurate information. In addition, AWC health centers will not distribute, encourage the use of, or offer referrals for contraceptive drugs and devices.

“CPCs intentionally mislead women to prevent them from accessing a full range of reproductive health care options including contraception and abortion,” National Abortion Federation (NAF) President and CEO Vicki Saporta said. “Instead of providing legitimate health care services for women, CPCs exist to dissuade women from considering abortion.”

NAF has joined with a coalition of health care and women’s organizations in sending a letter to Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, to express serious concerns over the appointment of Dr. Keroack.

“Dr. Keroack should not be entrusted with the oversight of the Title X program and the health of millions of Americans,” Saporta said. “For more than 35 years, the Title X program has been a hallmark of quality preventative care, enabling practitioners to provide family planning services to low-income individuals.”

In June 2006, NAF released a comprehensive report detailing the many ways Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) have deceived and intimidated women. The report, entitled Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Affront to Choice , highlights numerous instances where CPCs have harassed and given false information to women, leaving them feeling betrayed and misled. The report also discusses legal action taken against CPCs.

Labels: crisis pregnancy center (CPC), Eric Keroack, Title X

For more than 35 years, the Title X program has been a hallmark of quality preventative care, enabling practitioners to provide family planning services to over 5 million low-income individuals annually. However, this program and its mission are now at serious risk. The Bush Administration has just appointed an anti-choice ob-gyn, Dr. Eric Keroack, to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs, a position which oversees the Title X program.

This appointment raises serious concerns, because Dr. Keroack is currently the Medical Director for A Woman’s Concern (AWC), five crisis pregnancy health centers located in the Greater Boston Area. Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are designed to dissuade pregnant women from seeking abortions, and in many instances, they misinform and intimidate women to achieve their goal. Dr. Keroack’s support of biased counseling is in direct conflict with Title X’s long-standing requirement that women facing an unintended pregnancy be provided with medically accurate information. In addition, AWC health centers will not distribute, encourage the use of, or offer referrals for contraceptive drugs and devices.

Dr. Keroack should not be entrusted with the oversight of the Title X program and the health of millions of American women. Act now and urge Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, to reconsider the appointment of Dr. Keroack as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.

>TAKE ACTION NOW!

Labels: anti-choice, crisis pregnancy center (CPC), Eric Keroack, Title X

This week, the Bush Administration appointed Eric Keroack, M.D., as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA) within the Department of Health and Human Services. In this post Keroack will oversee the Office of Family Planning and the Title X program, which is the only Federal program designed to fund family planning and reproductive health services.

An anti-choice advocate, Keroack is the Medical Director of six Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Massachusetts, which oppose counseling and education on birth control, and attempt to dissuade women from obtaining abortions.

Labels: anti-choice, Contraception, crisis pregnancy center (CPC), Eric Keroack, Title X