We’ve all done it and lived to regret it. Last night I went down the rabbit hole of comments posted in response to the news about our filing suit against North Carolina for singling out Planned Parenthood and banning us from doing business with the state.  

Aside from the nut jobs that refuse to admit Planned Parenthood provides health care, there were two strands of comments that made me a bit crazy. Several people seemed genuinely baffled as to why we were shocked to have been cut. Let me say for the record, we wouldn’t have been shocked had we simply been cut. I mean, we’re all aware of the devastating cuts wreaked on education by the new legislative majority.  

So, no, we’re not suing because our funding was reduced. We’re suing because we were BANNED from doing business with the state in a purely political move by the new legislative majority despite a gubernatorial veto.

Here’s the exact language:

Prohibit Use of All Funds for Planned Parenthood Organizations

For FY 2011-2012 and FY 2012-2013, the Department of Health and Human Services may not provide State fund or other funds administered by the Department for contracts and grants to Planned Parenthood, Inc and affiliated organizations.

The other strand that made me a little bonkers were those who seem to have a “let them eat cake” approach to women in need of annual exams, birth control and lifesaving cancer screenings (aka basic health care for women in their childbearing years).

They suggested women could just go to the local health department. Aside from my suspicion that few of these virtual commentators get their health care from a health department, they seem clueless as to the wait involved in such an endeavor.

When the Planned Parenthood ban was first introduced in the NC House, we called health departments in cities where Planned Parenthood provides health services to see how long a new patient would have to wait for birth control. Waiting periods, in general, for a new family planning patient spanned from one month to three. A woman could be well into her first trimester of a pregnancy by this time.

In most cases, Planned Parenthood can see a woman who calls the same day or week. We’re also open on Saturdays and evenings—additional access not always available through health departments.

Proven access, in fact, is a major reason why Planned Parenthood won competitive state grants to deliver family planning services to women time and time again.

I’m not knocking health departments. There wasn’t a Planned Parenthood where I grew up so I got my first pack of pills from the health department. I’m grateful they were there.

The issue isn’t Planned Parenthood vs. health departments. We’re partners in making sure that women with little or no health coverage receive quality health care. Simply put, most health departments are at capacity. They do not have the ability to serve more patients. And, NC House Health and Human Services Chair Rep. Nelson Dollar couldn’t care less. Without ever addressing current waiting periods or other barriers to women seeking health care, Dollar cavalierly suggests Planned Parenthood patients can just go to their health department.  But, then, again, Dollar and his ilk like waiting periods and barriers for women seeking health care.

Oops, that’s another topic.

I know facts matter little to some vitriolic commentators out there but, friends, if you are inclined, help us by posting the truth. North Carolina’s new legislative majority cares far more about politics than women’s lives and that’s my final comment.

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