Statehouse News Bureau

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Planned Parenthood Changes Could Affect Ohio

By Jo Ingles

Published August 19, 2019 at 10:21 PM EDT

Planned Parenthood in Columbus [Karen Kasler / Statehouse News Bureau] — Planned Parenthood, Columbus

Planned Parenthood says it will no longer provide birth control, HIV and STD testing and other health services with federal money known as Title X funds. The group says it cannot comply with what they call a gag rule that just went into effect that prohibits its doctors from talking about abortion with their patients. Here is what that means in Ohio.

Lillian Williams with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio says more than 60,000 low income Ohioans get health screenings and birth control with the help of Title X funds.

“The subsidy allows us to provide services for patients at no cost, up to 100% of poverty. Without that funding, those, quote, unquote, fully subsidized services won’t be available," Williams says.

Planned Parenthood is the only Title X provider in nine Ohio counties, Williams says. The organization will continue to serve patients on Medicaid and with private insurance, but Williams says this change will also prevent mobile clinics in Cuyahoga County from going to low-income communities to provide health education and testing for HIV, STDs and pregnancy.