Twenty-three state attorneys general say the Trump administration's 2019 changes to Title X "harmed our states by, among other things, reducing the availability of family planning services and accessible reproductive healthcare in our communities."
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is among a coalition of 23 state attorneys general applauding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' proposal to eliminate the Trump-era "domestic gag rule" that prohibits Title X providers from making abortion referrals.
In a 15-page letter on May 17 to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, the AGs said the Trump administration's 2019 changes to Title X "harmed our states by, among other things, reducing the availability of family planning services and accessible reproductive healthcare in our communities."
"These harms have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic," the AGs wrote. "Moreover, the 2019 Rule has caused significant harm to women and to populations that have faced difficulties accessing essential healthcare services, such as patients in rural areas, people of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals; doctors and other healthcare providers; and numerous entities in our states that receive federal healthcare funding."
The AGs noted that Title X funding also covers access to contraceptive methods, critical screenings for high blood pressure, anemia, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, and cervical and breast cancer. The restrictions in the 2019 rule resulted in a dramatic loss of Title X providers, the AGs said, which in turn resulted in a 60% decline in the numbers of people served by the program between 2018 and 2020.
HHS announced the proposed rule in mid-April and said the 2019 rules "have undermined the public health of the population the program is meant to serve."
HHS said it plans to "revise the 2019 rules by readopting the 2000 regulations (65 FR 41270), with several modifications needed to strengthen the program and ensure access to equitable, affordable, client-centered, quality family planning services for all clients, especially for low-income clients," HHS said.
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The AGs noted that Title X funding also covers access to contraceptive methods, critical screenings for high blood pressure, anemia, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, and cervical and breast cancer.
The restrictions in the 2019 rule resulted in a dramatic loss of Title X providers, the AGs said, which in turn resulted in a 60% decline in the numbers of people served by the program between 2018 and 2020.
HHS announced the proposed rule in mid-April and said the 2019 rules "have undermined the public health of the population the program is meant to serve."
HHS said it plans to "revise the 2019 rules by readopting the 2000 regulations (65 FR 41270), with several modifications needed to strengthen the program and ensure access to equitable, affordable, client-centered, quality family planning services for all clients, especially for low-income clients."