ACOG, ACP voice ‘deep concern’ over potential Title X changes

 

The American College of Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed concern over possible significant changes to Title X, a long-standing federal program that provides gynecologic care and family planning information and services, primarily to low-income and uninsured Americans.

“An announcement is expected any day that the Trump administration is going to make dramatic changes to Title X funding,” said Shari M. Erickson, vice president of governmental affairs and medical practice at the American College of Physicians, during a joint telebriefing May 4.

“The American College of Physicians is strongly opposed to any changes that would make it more difficult for patients seeking contraception and reproductive health services to find care,” said Ms. Erickson.

Hal Lawrence, MD, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, echoed ACP’s concerns.

“When we talk about changes to limit or restructure Title X, we’re talking about changes to basic family planning options for American women,” he said during the telebriefing.

“As the largest organization of women’s health care providers, ACOG is deeply concerned about anticipated changes to Title X to limit the services that qualify for program funding and picking and choosing among qualified providers. These changes move away from science-based principles,” Dr. Lawrence said.

Dr. Lawrence noted that 99% of American women who have been sexually active report having used contraception at some point, and 87.5% have used a highly effective reversible method. “Contraceptive coverage is cost effective and reduces unintended pregnancies and abortion rates,” said Dr. Lawrence. “No doubt, the increased access to contraceptives facilitated by Title X programs has aided in bringing the American teenage pregnancy rate to an all-time low.”

 

Title X provides federal funding for family planning and related preventive health services, primarily serving low-income individuals and those without health insurance.

Agencies receiving Title X money currently provide gynecologic exams, contraceptive and family planning counseling, contraceptive services, and pregnancy testing and related information, explained Ms. Erickson.

“The expected changes from the administration would prevent any Title X funds from going to an entity that provides even basic information about all of the legal and evidence-based options available for pregnant women,” said Ms. Erickson, referring to the possibility of a “gag rule” that would prevent those receiving Title X monies from discussing abortion.

These changes, if implemented, would echo policies implemented in the 1980s by the Reagan administration, a shift that Ms. Erickson termed “outdated and out of touch.” Millions of individuals could have access to care affected, she said, “with a disproportionate number of those impacted being women who are seeking access to contraception and reproductive health care, as well as general preventive services.”

 

If patients lose access to such services through Title X–funded facilities, they may not have another option within reasonable proximity, said Ms. Erickson. She added that options that exist for the population likely to be affected are often community health centers already operating under significant resource constraints.

Title X does not currently fund any abortion services.

Ms. Erickson said that it’s not currently clear whether any proposed changes or limitations would include proscriptions on discussing contraceptive methods. She and Dr. Lawrence said that neither ACP nor ACOG would anticipate initiating or joining litigation against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services or the administration. On the telebriefing, each representative said that their organizations would need to know what form Title X changes might take, and then see what the nature of any lawsuits would be, before endorsing litigation.

[email protected]

 

The American College of Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed concern over possible significant changes to Title X, a long-standing federal program that provides gynecologic care and family planning information and services, primarily to low-income and uninsured Americans.

“An announcement is expected any day that the Trump administration is going to make dramatic changes to Title X funding,” said Shari M. Erickson, vice president of governmental affairs and medical practice at the American College of Physicians, during a joint telebriefing May 4.

“The American College of Physicians is strongly opposed to any changes that would make it more difficult for patients seeking contraception and reproductive health services to find care,” said Ms. Erickson.

Hal Lawrence, MD, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, echoed ACP’s concerns.

“When we talk about changes to limit or restructure Title X, we’re talking about changes to basic family planning options for American women,” he said during the telebriefing.

“As the largest organization of women’s health care providers, ACOG is deeply concerned about anticipated changes to Title X to limit the services that qualify for program funding and picking and choosing among qualified providers. These changes move away from science-based principles,” Dr. Lawrence said.

Dr. Lawrence noted that 99% of American women who have been sexually active report having used contraception at some point, and 87.5% have used a highly effective reversible method. “Contraceptive coverage is cost effective and reduces unintended pregnancies and abortion rates,” said Dr. Lawrence. “No doubt, the increased access to contraceptives facilitated by Title X programs has aided in bringing the American teenage pregnancy rate to an all-time low.”

 

Title X provides federal funding for family planning and related preventive health services, primarily serving low-income individuals and those without health insurance.

Agencies receiving Title X money currently provide gynecologic exams, contraceptive and family planning counseling, contraceptive services, and pregnancy testing and related information, explained Ms. Erickson.

“The expected changes from the administration would prevent any Title X funds from going to an entity that provides even basic information about all of the legal and evidence-based options available for pregnant women,” said Ms. Erickson, referring to the possibility of a “gag rule” that would prevent those receiving Title X monies from discussing abortion.

These changes, if implemented, would echo policies implemented in the 1980s by the Reagan administration, a shift that Ms. Erickson termed “outdated and out of touch.” Millions of individuals could have access to care affected, she said, “with a disproportionate number of those impacted being women who are seeking access to contraception and reproductive health care, as well as general preventive services.”

 

If patients lose access to such services through Title X–funded facilities, they may not have another option within reasonable proximity, said Ms. Erickson. She added that options that exist for the population likely to be affected are often community health centers already operating under significant resource constraints.

Title X does not currently fund any abortion services.

Ms. Erickson said that it’s not currently clear whether any proposed changes or limitations would include proscriptions on discussing contraceptive methods. She and Dr. Lawrence said that neither ACP nor ACOG would anticipate initiating or joining litigation against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services or the administration. On the telebriefing, each representative said that their organizations would need to know what form Title X changes might take, and then see what the nature of any lawsuits would be, before endorsing litigation.

[email protected]

 

The American College of Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed concern over possible significant changes to Title X, a long-standing federal program that provides gynecologic care and family planning information and services, primarily to low-income and uninsured Americans.

“An announcement is expected any day that the Trump administration is going to make dramatic changes to Title X funding,” said Shari M. Erickson, vice president of governmental affairs and medical practice at the American College of Physicians, during a joint telebriefing May 4.

“The American College of Physicians is strongly opposed to any changes that would make it more difficult for patients seeking contraception and reproductive health services to find care,” said Ms. Erickson.

Hal Lawrence, MD, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, echoed ACP’s concerns.

“When we talk about changes to limit or restructure Title X, we’re talking about changes to basic family planning options for American women,” he said during the telebriefing.

“As the largest organization of women’s health care providers, ACOG is deeply concerned about anticipated changes to Title X to limit the services that qualify for program funding and picking and choosing among qualified providers. These changes move away from science-based principles,” Dr. Lawrence said.

Dr. Lawrence noted that 99% of American women who have been sexually active report having used contraception at some point, and 87.5% have used a highly effective reversible method. “Contraceptive coverage is cost effective and reduces unintended pregnancies and abortion rates,” said Dr. Lawrence. “No doubt, the increased access to contraceptives facilitated by Title X programs has aided in bringing the American teenage pregnancy rate to an all-time low.”

 

Title X provides federal funding for family planning and related preventive health services, primarily serving low-income individuals and those without health insurance.

Agencies receiving Title X money currently provide gynecologic exams, contraceptive and family planning counseling, contraceptive services, and pregnancy testing and related information, explained Ms. Erickson.

“The expected changes from the administration would prevent any Title X funds from going to an entity that provides even basic information about all of the legal and evidence-based options available for pregnant women,” said Ms. Erickson, referring to the possibility of a “gag rule” that would prevent those receiving Title X monies from discussing abortion.

These changes, if implemented, would echo policies implemented in the 1980s by the Reagan administration, a shift that Ms. Erickson termed “outdated and out of touch.” Millions of individuals could have access to care affected, she said, “with a disproportionate number of those impacted being women who are seeking access to contraception and reproductive health care, as well as general preventive services.”

 

If patients lose access to such services through Title X–funded facilities, they may not have another option within reasonable proximity, said Ms. Erickson. She added that options that exist for the population likely to be affected are often community health centers already operating under significant resource constraints.

Title X does not currently fund any abortion services.

Ms. Erickson said that it’s not currently clear whether any proposed changes or limitations would include proscriptions on discussing contraceptive methods. She and Dr. Lawrence said that neither ACP nor ACOG would anticipate initiating or joining litigation against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services or the administration. On the telebriefing, each representative said that their organizations would need to know what form Title X changes might take, and then see what the nature of any lawsuits would be, before endorsing litigation.

[email protected]