Local & Region Planned Parenthood celebrates ACA repeal failure.
In solidarity with other actions across the nation and 20 cities in California, Planned Parenthood Imperial Valley Health Center rallied outside its headquarters Saturday relishing the defeat of the Affordable Care Act repeal.
“Our lives on the line” was the theme of the nationwide rally to remind everybody that it is lowincome women who most often access the nonprofit. When the House of Representatives passed H.R. 354 this spring there was a provision in the bill that blocked the nonprofit from participating in the Medicaid program.
The effect could have been ruinous to some of the nonprofit’s 660 health centers across the U.S., officials said.
De-funding may result in some of the clinics closing but could also mean many losing their eligibility for Medicaid. About 60 percent of Planned Parenthood patients rely on federal health programs.
Although known as an abortion provider, Planned Parenthood provides many other services.
About 43 percent of its budget, nearly $550 million, comes from government grants and reimbursements with Medicaid accounting for the majority of that amount, according to the Washington Post.
“We provide reproductive health services which are highly needed,” said Alberto Galvan, community engagement manager of Planned Parenthood Imperial Valley Health Center. “Imperial County has one of the highest rates of teen births, according to the California Department of Public Health.”
Yet 94 percent of their services are for contraception, cancer screenings and sexually transmitted disease intervention.
They also provide classes for adults and teens to prevent STDs, prevent unintended pregnancies and improve family communication so teens avoid high risk behavior.
There were no protests Saturday as marked the opening of the center several years ago.
Part of the reason for the rally was to remind people Planned Parenthood provides quality reproductive care.
None of the federal funds they receive supports abortion services. Yet if they were eventually de-funded it could mean many of the 2.5 million who rely upon them annually would go without care.
“It would mean people cannot come here to get contraceptives, get tested and treated for STDs or receive cancer treatment,” said Galvan. “In California, funding cuts would affect 850,000.”
One of those carrying a banner outside Planned Parenthood and waving to motorists was Maribel Padilla of Calexico.
She was accompanied by her son, Fernando Ochoa, who turns 18 next month and plans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. “I brought him out here to learn to be an active citizen,” she said. “If he’s going to fight for his country he needs to learn to fight for civil liberties.”
Padilla added, they have won a battle with the defeat of the ACA repeal but they are still “fighting the war” because the Republican controlled Congress will continue to try to impose austerity measures by cutting Medicare and Medicaid that will impact the homeless, elderly, women and children.
“I’m the voice of the homeless — I co-founded the Brown Bag Coalition,” she said. “And now I’m a voice for Planned Parenthood.”