State Senate Guts Funding for Women’s Healthcare

Goldy has a nice writeup on the small differences between the State Senate’s budget proposal and the House’s proposal—but he leaves out an important difference: Unlike the House, the Senate’s proposal cuts $4.5 million in family planning spending over the next two years—essentially cut thousands of women off from breast exams, STI testing, pap smears, and access to affordable contraception.

“For every one million cut from family planning services, that represents cutting off services to 4,000 people,” explains Dana Laurent, political director for Planned Parenthood Votes! WA. “We’re talking about over 18,000 women and families losing access to basic preventative care in Washington.”

The past three state budget cycles have drastically cut the Department of Health’s family planning budget from $10 million in 2007-2009 to the proposed $4.5 million for the 2011-2013 biennium. And this latest hit to women’s health couldn’t come at a worse time. Tomorrow, congressional leaders will vote on whether or not to defund Planned Parenthood, cutting $300 million in Title X funds for these same basic services. The Department of Health estimates that 101,673 patients in Washington were served with Title X funds at Planned Parenthood and other family planning providers in 2010.

“Nationally, locally, we’re stretched to the brink,” says Laurent. Overall, public funding for family planning in Washington has dropped by $14.5 million since 2005. (This includes both federal and state cuts.)

PP Votes is working to get an amendment introduced in the Senate Ways and Means committee that would reinstate state family planning funds—but they need help. Call the state legislative hotline (800) 562-6000 and tell your senator that Washington women can’t afford these cuts.

Because every dollar cut from family planning services in Washington results in $4.10 in new unintended pregnancy costs that start the same year. I’ll break down that expense after the jump.

From Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington:

-For every $1 million dollars spent, 4,167 patients will receive essential family planning services.

–Guttmacher studies show that for every 1,000 people who lose access to publicly funded family planning services, 242 will become pregnant. This means 1008 new pregnancies within one year if the $1M family planning is lost.

-Of those 1008 pregnancies, 14% will miscarry, 42% will abort, and 44% will carry to term and have a State Medicaid-paid birth.

-42% of 1008 = 423 abortions, at a cost of $586 each, so 423 x $586 = $247,878

-44% of 1008 = 444 births generating an average state cost of $8,675, so 444 x $8,675 = $3,851,700

-Total costs resulting from the loss of $1M would equal $3,851,700 + $247,878 = $4,099,578 spent, so the savings in this calculation are $4.10 for every $1 we spend on family planning.

Again: Call the state legislative hotline (800) 562-6000 and tell your senator that the state—and Washington women—can’t afford these cuts.