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National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

News about reproductive choice from the President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, Vicki Saporta.

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Thursday, November 01, 2007

Sign the Petition to Repeal Hyde!

Make Your Voice Heard!

For nearly 35 years, women in the United States have had the right to obtain safe, legal abortion care. However, bans on public funding have severely restricted the ability of low-income women, who depend on the government for their health care, to obtain the care they need. Since 1977, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal Medicaid funding to be used for abortion care except in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment.

Under this restriction, even when an abortion is necessary to preserve a woman's health, the procedure is not covered. As a result, a woman may delay her abortion while seeking funds to pay for care, or continue a pregnancy at risk to her own health. The Hyde Amendment is grossly unjust and the time has come to address this inequity in women's health care.

Join over 60 groups in the Hyde - 30 Years is Enough! Campaign and call on Congress to repeal the Hyde Amendment and restore coverage of abortion care for low-income women. Sign our petition today!

Together, we can create a society in which all women have the resources necessary to obtain the health care they need.

>Learn more about the "Hyde - 30 Years is Enough! Campaign"
>Read the National Abortion Federation's fact sheet about the Hyde Amendment.

Labels: abortion bans, Hyde, Medicaid

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Clinics and Patient Challenge Georgia’s Refusal to Offer Medicaid Coverage for ‘Medically Necessary’ Abortions

The Georgia Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a legal challenge brought against the state for its refusal to reimburse Medicaid recipients for abortion care when the procedure is needed to protect a woman's health. Several abortion clinics in Georgia and an unnamed Medicaid recipient sued the state arguing that it was unconstitutional to exclude “medically necessary” abortions from coverage. Under the current law, state Medicaid coverage can only be used to fund abortions in cases where the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the woman.

In some cases, an abortion is necessary to protect a woman’s health even though her life is not in danger. Removing funding restrictions for abortion care is an integral step in ensuring that women are able to access the abortion care they need regardless of their financial circumstances.

Labels: access, Medicaid

Thursday, April 12, 2007

A New York Times Editorial Says Keroack was Always ‘A Bad Choice’

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

Monday, January 08, 2007

Threats to Abortion Access in the States

Attacks on abortion rights continue at the state level. Following are two recent examples:

Ohio: In one of his last acts in office, Governor Bob Taft signed a bill prohibiting public funding of abortions except in instances of rape, incest, or life endangerment. The bill officially states that childbirth is preferred over abortion as the public policy of the state, and also banned the use of public money, including Medicaid, for abortion counseling and referrals.

Oklahoma: State Representative Mike Reynolds recently filed a “trigger” bill, which would automatically go into effect if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and re-establish the state’s anti-abortion laws.

>Learn more about state level threats to abortion access

Labels: abortion bans, access, Medicaid, Roe v. Wade

Friday, December 01, 2006

Clinic Victorious in Protecting the Privacy of Minor Patients

Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter and Planned Parenthood of Indiana signed a settlement agreement Thursday, ending almost two years of legal battles over the medical records of minor patients. Carter has agreed to return patient records his office obtained from Planned Parenthood and refrain from further record requests following a ruling from the Indiana Court of Appeals in September, which stated a minor's right to privacy trumps the state's desire to search for evidence of abuse. In March 2005, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit attempted to seize the records of over 80 minor patients visiting Planned Parenthood clinics across the state for services including birth control, pregnancy tests, and counseling. At first Planned Parenthood surrendered partial records of eight patients to comply with the investigation, but sought an injunction when the unit expanded its request.

Labels: Contraception, Medicaid, parental involvement