Plan wouldn't fund abortion
After a month of right-wing activists employing every scare tactic imaginable at congressional town hall meetings on health reform, columnist Kathleen Parker falsely claimed that health care reform would lead to federally funded abortions ("Abortion issue could thwart Obama's health reform goals," Sept. 9). The truth is that advocates for women's health care, including Planned Parenthood, are focused on achieving affordable, quality health care for all and ensuring that women's broad health needs are met through reform. Nonetheless, conservative activists and pundits like Ms. Parker are focused on defeating President Obama and blocking reform by spreading false information about one of the most charged topics in health care - funding abortion. We cannot allow them to succeed, and we must come to the defense of the truth about reform and women's health.
Abortion is a legal medical procedure and is part of the American health care system. But the Hyde Amendment of 1976 forbade the use of federal funds to pay for abortion. Building on this arrangement, Rep. Lois Capps, a California Democrat, proposed this summer that only private dollars be used to pay for abortion under health reform, and the Energy and Commerce Committee approved her amendment in July.
Despite the legislation's clear language to the contrary, Ms. Parker claims that individuals receiving federal subsidies to purchase health insurance under reform will be using government dollars to pay for abortion. The Capps amendment guarantees that all funds used to pay for abortions (whether through a private insurance plan or through the competing public option) will come from private dollars.
Additionally, the proposed public option is not a government-financed plan like Medicaid. It would be established by the government but function like a private insurance plan, and it would be financed by individuals' premiums. Given the role of private dollars in purchasing coverage through the public option, the Capps amendment ensures that individuals who oppose abortion will not be forced to pay for abortion services. Capps accomplishes this by offering everyone the choice of purchasing a plan that does not cover abortion.
Health care reform is not the place to negotiate the legality of reproductive health care. As a health care provider to more than 3 million patients every year, Planned Parenthood is eager to focus on what's important - making health care more accessible and reducing the growing number of teen and unintended pregnancies. We believe that true reform that advances women's health will do just that.
