Proposed rule threatens access to birth control, reproductive healthcare

New York City, September 16, 2008 – Together with women’s health advocates, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn today issued a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt urging him to withdraw a proposed rule that would severely threaten women’s access to healthcare nationwide. Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice New York and the New York American Civil Liberties Union joined Speaker Quinn in condemning the proposed change.

Proposed rule 73 Reg. 50274 threatens access to even the most basic forms of birth control, and allows a wide range of healthcare workers to refuse to participate in or to provide medical care with which they do not personally or religiously agree with.

A number of New York City’s local laws could be undermined by proposed rule 73, including laws that mandate the provision of emergency contraception to rape victims and at city health facilities, and a law that requires that pharmacies publically post the availability of emergency contraception.

Speaker Quinn expressed particular concern about women who rely on publicly funded medical services, given that the proposed rule does not clarify what safeguards a healthcare facility is required to have in place when a medical professional refuses to provide a service.

Quinn stated, “When a woman with limited options for heath care is denied services by a provider, will she be referred to another provider that can fully treat her or will her health and her rights be placed in jeopardy because of her provider’s beliefs? Striking a balance between the religious liberty of individual health care providers cannot come at the expense of seamless and complete care for the patient.”

“We applaud Speaker Quinn for standing up to make sure that New York City women are not denied the basic reproductive healthcare services they deserve,” said Kelli Conlin, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York.

“Women’s ability to manage their own health care is at risk of being compromised by politics and ideology. As one of the leading women’s health care providers and advocates, Planned Parenthood will not stand by and watch the Bush administration deny quality, affordable health care and accurate information to women. At a time when more and more families are uninsured and under economic assault, we find our health care system is in crisis and our president taking steps to deny access to basic care,” said Joan Malin, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of New York City

Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union stated, “New York City has been a leader in protecting women’s access to reproductive health care. The speaker is right to express concern regarding these regulations, which could undermine important protections duly enacted by the City Council and by City agencies.”