California Family Health Council, Inc.

Challenges at the Federal Level

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed an expanded “conscience clause” which would allow health service providers the right to decline individuals any type of service due to religious or moral convictions. The regulations, as proposed, are extremely broad and would place no conditions on these refusal rights. The receptionist in a family planning clinic could refuse to schedule appointments for men; a clinician could refuse to provide contraception for unmarried women; a clerk in a pharmacy could refuse to ring up purchases for AIDS medication; and the list goes on.

Within the very short 30-day comment period, and with consultation by legal experts, CFHC submitted comments to HHS. CFHC urged HHS to withdraw the regulations, and if the Department chooses to issue the regulations, CFHC requested that it amend them to address the numerous areas which require clarification. HHS now must respond to the comments prior to any future action.

Challenges at the State Level

The Campaign for Teen Safety

CFHC has been working diligently on the “No on Prop 4” Campaign for Teen Safety to stop the passage of the parental notification initiative on the November 4th ballot. CFHC has been involved in legislative hearings, press conferences, and several speaker trainings focused on getting the message of teen safety out to California voters.

As Election Day draws near, we have increased our efforts to educate as many voters as possible on the dangers of Prop 4. In collaboration with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, CFHC hosted a weekly phone bank to let undecided voters know the serious impact this dangerous initiative would have on teens.

California’s Family PACT Program

Californians face an additional threat to their access to family planning services. The funding for the Family PACT program, one of the most successful family planning programs in the nation, is in jeopardy. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notified California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that California’s Family PACT waiver renewal would be approved; however, additional conditions were added with requirements and timeframes the State would find problematic to meet or afford.

The most onerous of these requirements is to verify that every individual enrolled in the program is a legal resident. The effects of this requirement include:

• Family PACT enrollees would have to file significantly more paperwork. To handle this paperwork, the State could be forced to hire up to 2,800 new staff – essentially doubling the entire DHCS staff.
• The cost per person to just determine eligibility would increase by as much as $175. Currently, the average annual cost per person to provide all comprehensive family planning services is only $261.
• Additionally, it could cost California $262 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2008-09 and potentially $315 million in federal funding in 2009-10.

CFHC and a statewide coalition of family planning advocates are working together to preserve the Family PACT program. We are asking for an extension of the current waiver until a solution can be reached.

CFHC is urging California’s legislators to contact the White House and Mike Leavitt, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to extend the waiver into 2009. On the legislative front, Senator Diane Feinstein is working with Senator Baucus to add language onto a Senate bill that would further extend the waiver.

The Family PACT program is a model for the nation that has served millions of low income men and women for 9 years. We are continuing to ask our friends and colleagues to reach out to their congressional representatives and to contact Speaker Pelosi’s office directly in order to obtain a waiver extension into 2009. The request remains the same: “Save California’s Family Planning Program: Help Us Secure an Extension!”

Standing Up for Reproductive Health Care

It is heartening to see men and women of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs come together to stand up for reproductive rights and health care for all. CFHC has been fortunate to be able to partner with diverse groups of committed individuals and organizations. We have built upon the partnerships we formed in the past when reproductive rights have been threatened. As we more forward into 2009, we will continue to forge alliances and advocate on the local, state, and national levels for access to safe, quality reproductive health services.

[ Return to Fall 2008 ]