July 24, 2018

An urgent call for pro-lifers to share their views

Time is running out for public comments on a proposed rule change at HHS that could cost abortion clinics revenue.
Time is running out for public comments on a proposed rule change at HHS that could cost abortion clinics revenue.

The Trump administration has proposed a change in Title X rules for funds granted through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Their rule change is to only provide that money to entities that are not affiliated with abortion, so this is our chance to take money away from Planned Parenthood.  The change would cost Planned Parenthood approximately $60 million.

HHS posted an 60-day period for online public comment, which ends July 31

Click here to view the proposed rule change.

Write a message to Health and Human Services Secretary Azar using the KEY POINTS below.

KEY POINTS

· Existing Title X regulations have blurred the line between abortion and family planning. The proposed Protect Life rule simply makes clear that abortion is not family planning.  The rule would direct that abortion facilities could not be in the same location as where family planning services are delivered.  The rule also states that Title X grantees may not refer for elective abortion.

· The proposed rule does not cut one dime of funding for family planning. Instead it merely ensures that federal funding goes to health facilities that do not perform or promote abortion as family planning.

Title X funds would be directed to health facilities willing to comply with the restored regulations. (Of note, nationwide, of the roughly 4,000 Title X service locations, less than 443 are Planned Parenthood clinics).

· There is widespread availability of facilities that do not provide abortion onsite.

Clinics that receive Title X funds (hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, state public health departments, and others) already provide care to well over half the patients served by Title X.  Since it appears that few such grantees are co-located with abortion clinics, they should have little difficulty complying with the new regulations.

· The proposed regulations will not "gag doctors" or "interfere with the doctor/patient relationship." This recycled argument is intended to divert attention from the real issue-- the routine referral for elective abortion by federally funded agents under the auspices of the Title X family planning program.

Click here to enter your comments on the proposed rule change.