Reproductive Justice in WV

Amid a High teen Pregnancy Rate, West Virginians Express Outrage over HHS Decision

2011-12-09T07:48:00.001-08:00

In an unprecedented decision, the Secretary of Health and Human Services has decided to overturn the FDA's recommendation that Plan B One-step be made available over-the-counter. To learn more about the debate check out this PBS video. In response to the decision WV FREE has issued the below press release to outline the effects this will have on youth in West Virginia, as well as the outrage expressed by supporters.

Charleston, WV- RegardingWest Virginians’ disappointment with the decision yesterday by the Secretary ofHealth and Human Services (HHS) to deny full over-the-counter (OTC) status forPlan B One-Step

Amid a High Teen Pregnancy Rate, West Virginians Express Outrageover HHS Decision

WV FREE’s email boxesare clogged with supporters’ outrage over the Administration’s decision tooverrule the FDA’s recommendation to put emergency birth control over thecounter without age restriction.

"SecretarySebelius’ decision puts politics over the health needs of young women,"said Margaret Chapman Pomponio, Executive Director. "We areincredibly disappointed that HHS is playing politics with women's health. Thisis particularly bad news for West Virginia youth, who are faced with a highteen pregnancy rate."

The Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) had been reviewing a supplemental application by themakers of emergency contraception Plan B One-Step, Teva Women's Health Inc., tomarket the drug, nonprescription without an age restriction. The FDA,through the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), reviewed Teva'sapplication and supporting evidence and concluded that Plan B One-Step was safeand effective for adolescent women, and that young women understood the use andlimitations of the drug. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg agreed withthe analysis and data, finding that the evidence supported making Plan BOne-Step available without a prescription for all females of child-bearingability.

Yesterday, the Secretaryof HHS issued a letter to Commissioner Hamburg overruling her decision, anddirecting the FDA to deny the supplemental application. When the FDAinitially approved Plan B One-Step in 2009 without a prescription for femalesage 17 and older, it did so in the face of considerable pressure fromanti-women opponents. The delay in initial approval of emergencycontraception without a prescription has been highly politicized and thesubject of a lawsuit by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

"The Administrationpledged to put science over politics at HHS and with this overruling, it hasbroken that promise” said Margaret Chapman Pomponio, Executive Director of WVFREE. “They have ignored the breadth ofscientific evidence and analysis the FDA considered and supported when itissued its opinion that Plan B One-Step should be OTC for all women," saidChapman Pomponio.

She continued:"This is the only over the counter drug treated in this fashion. It’s ablatant example of how women’s health – and sexual health- is used as apolitical football. The tragedy of Sebelius’ ploy is that it was made at theexpense of young women. We can ignore the issue of teen pregnancy and sexualactivity if we like, but it is at the expense of our young people. The fact is,youth in West Virginia are having unprotected sex. We can accept that fact andequip them with the best health care and education available, or we can denyaccess that will only exacerbate an already high teen pregnancy rate. We are saddenedthat the Administration has chosen the latter.”

Emergency birth control,including Plan B One-Step, is currently available without a prescription forpersons 17 and older. The drug is located behind the pharmacy counter,and persons must present proof of age for purchase. Persons aged 16 andyounger can only obtain emergency contraception with a prescription. Emergencybirth control may be found at low or no cost at the West VirginiaState Family Planning Program clinics (including county health departments) around the state.

WV FREE is a reproductive justice organization thatworks every day for West Virginia women and families to improve education onreproductive options, increase access to affordable birth control, reduce teenpregnancy and protect personal decision-making, including decisions aboutwhether or when to have child.

Standing with Women in Mississippi

2011-11-08T09:10:00.000-08:00

Today voters in Mississippi will decide whether to pass amisleading and controversial bill, entitled the “personhood” amendment or initiative26. This amendment would define the beginning of human life at the point ofconception…i.e. where sperm meets egg. But is a fertilized egg really the samething as a human? Should an egg have equal rights to the woman who is carryingit? Should a health care provider be forced to put the wellbeing of afertilized egg above that of a woman: a wife, a daughter, a mother?

If you’re interested in how the whole biological process works and understanding how this amendment would ban popular types of birth control, like the pill, I highly recommend watching Rachel Maddow’s hilarious but informative “Man Cave” clip:

Although these “personhood” initiatives are terrifyingbecause they could ban such common contraceptives like the pill, it is more concerningto me that we are again dictating personal and religious beliefs throughgovernment mandates—beliefs that take away individual choices and health careoptions for women.

Throughout history, the beginning of human life has beendefined in different ways and at different points in time. Even today, in ourworld of advanced technology, scientists and religious figures cannot agree onthis topic. Although I disagree with a person who may believe that a fertilizedegg is the equivalent of a full grown human, as I believe most Americans do, Irespect that this is one’s personal belief.

However, my question is this— why, in a diverse country likethe United States, that includes people of every religion, every culture andevery belief system in the world, are we allowing eccentric, fringe politiciansand interest groups, to govern to everyone else what their belief system shouldbe?

According to the Public Policy Polling group the overwhelming support for this initiative comes from men, whites andRepublicans. Call me crazy, but the last time I checked, the world (includingMississippi) included more than just white, male Republicans.

With eccentric politicians and interest groups continuing touse women’s access to health care as an opportunity to divide opinion and gainpolitical ground, when will we see an end to measures that attack a woman’sability to make a decision that’s best for herself and her family?

Mississippi is seeing this battle today. Could we see it inWest Virginia tomorrow?

Let's make sure the answer is NO.

Now is the time to come together with a unified voice andtell our elected officials,

“Enough is enough. We believe that each woman is capable ofmaking the best decision for herself and her family without the intrusion ofgovernment. We refuse to let you endanger our mothers, sisters and daughtersfor the sake of political gain. We demand that you stop attacking a women’sability to access safe, affordable reproductive health care services that areessential for the well-being of her and her family.”

Support Affordable Birth Control in the United States!

2011-07-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its highly anticipated recommendation on whether contraception should be considered a preventive service in the Affordable Care Act. The IOM concluded that contraception is preventive and should be available to patients at no out-of-pocket cost. This would eliminate co-pays to obtain birth control and make contraception a more affordable option for American women! The full list of IOM recommendations can be found here.

Considering the state of women’s health in the United States, the IOM’s recommendation is quite timely. Rather surprisingly, recent studies have found that half of American women are not seeking medical care because of cost, and women are also dying younger in the United States than they were 10 years ago.

Affordable contraception is a great step in improving women’s health in the United States. Use of contraception not only prevents unplanned pregnancies, but also reduces the health and social consequences of these unplanned pregnancies. Approximately half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and these pregnancies are associated with a higher risk to the health of the mother and child. Babies born at least 18 months apart are also less likely to be susceptible to pregnancy complications. Financially, unplanned pregnancies are often a burden on families and taxpayer dollars.

Contraceptives also have further preventive benefits and are associated with causing lower rates of pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cancer in women. Affordable contraceptives may also spark an increase in the use of more effective birth control methods. Did you know that implantable birth control, such as the IUD, has the highest rate of effectiveness, but is only used by 5% of women? This is believed to be due to lack of knowledge, access, and funding.

The last step in this process will be the Health and Human Services Department’s official decision on whether to adopt the IOM’s recommendation on August 1^st. This determination is extremely important and the final word on whether birth control will be covered at no additional cost to patients. Please take action NOW! If you want to see more affordable birth control in the United States, please contact Secretary Sebelius at Healthreform@hhs.gov and state that the HHS should adopt the IOM’s recommendation.

Have you seen our new youth resources???

2011-07-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

With so much misinformation, outright lies and superstitions surrounding sexuality and safe sex, WV FREE has decided to devote our new mini-site entirely to reproductive health & options for teens in West Virginia.

On our “Get a Plan” page you’ll find accurate information about safe sex, contraceptive effectiveness, and a full-range of pregnancy options.

The next page, “Know Your Rights, Know the Facts” outlines the legal system for minors seeking an abortion. Because of the high number of Crisis Pregnancy Centers in West Virginia (clinics that masquerade as a center for women’s health and are usually run by extreme anti-choice groups) we felt it was necessary to provide a place for young people to find out all their legal options when faced with a difficult decision about a pregnancy.

As one young man shouted out during the last “Emergency Contraception” training I taught—“Knowledge is power.” Which is why our last page, “Be the Change” is designed to provide West Virginia youth with information about how to advocate for themselves and their peers at the state and national level.

I hope even if you’re not from the great Mountain State you’ll check out our new resources, including our fabulous YouTube videos starring…a loveable “horny” rhino! Check it out here and let us know what you think.

Let’s start with education. Let’s end with empowerment.

The "MTV Effect" on a Pro-Choice Stance

2011-06-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

It seems that everyone these days has heard of MTV’s hit reality shows, 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, but an unexpected effect of these shows is that viewers are more likely to favor abortion as legal and moral, than those who have never watched the show, according to a new study by the Public Religion Research Institute. The overall population surveyed generally believed in abortion’s legality, though they morally opposed it. However, those surveyed who had watched either MTV show, were more likely to be in favor of not only legalized abortion, but also believe abortion to be a morally sound option. This so-called “MTV Effect” is creating the same empathy for the pro-choice stance as knowing someone who has had an abortion—the other individuals most likely to favor the pro-choice movement. Because of the often secret nature of abortion, few people are aware of those they know who have had an abortion. The very public forum of MTV is a starting place for a more honest look at teenage pregnancy and the need for access to family planning services.

Since the inception of 16 and Pregnant, there has been some concern about the show’s potential for glamorization of teenage pregnancy. However, this newest study demonstrates that perhaps these shows are giving a much clearer picture of the hardships of teenage pregnancy than originally expected. Support for access to birth control was also high among all groups surveyed. The “MTV Effect” seems to be making it easier for people to empathize with the individual situations in which abortion may be appropriate. As expected, those who think in terms of specific situations are more likely to favor abortion, than those who see it as a blanket issue of right and wrong.

However, despite this study, these reality shows are not without concern. While, the first look at teen pregnancy may be candid, the show’s continuation into new seasons that are in need of fresh plots and new faces has the potential to further perpetuate teenage pregnancy by giving a commercialized and scripted viewpoint.

There is certainly a delicate balance that must be maintained, but for now the “MTV Effect” is creating a new way for the millennial generation to see “firsthand” some potential consequences of teenage pregnancy.

Don't Leave Women Out of Health Reform

2009-12-22T07:10:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard that there was great progress made in the effort to advance health reform legislation. Unfortunately, a woman's right to access reproductive health care was attacked in that same bill. Simply put, no other medical procedure is singled out like abortion. It's unfair to women because it's part of our basic health care needs.

If the Senate's abortion restriction language were to become law:

Women in states that have 'opted out' of abortion care would be unable to buy health insurance that includes abortion because their state legislatures would have voted against it.
Women in some more moderate states might be able to buy insurance that includes abortion coverage. But they would have to write one check for the abortion coverage and another one for the rest of their health insurance. This is absurd because most women don't plan for troubled or unwanted pregnancies. Further, insurance companies may decide this is too much trouble and too costly to administer, and drop abortion coverage.

SPEAK OUT AGAINST THESE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS!

We must work together to fight these discriminatory policies. What can we do?

Call Senators Byrd and Rockefeller today (1-877-264-4226). Tell them you appreciate their support of health reform and that you want health reform efforts to succeed. Tell them that a woman's reproductive health care should not be sacrificed. The restrictions on abortion are too severe. If the restrictions cannot be changed in the Senate, they must be fixed in the House-Senate conference committee. Ask them to take leadership on helping to soften the restrictions.

Call your West Virginia Congressperson today (1-877-264-4226) and tell him or her you support health reform legislation but oppose both the Stupak amendment and the new Nelson amendment. Tell them the restrictions on abortion care are too severe and must be dropped.

Call the White House (1-202-456-1111) and tell our President that this is not the health reform we were promised. Urge him to make sure the health reform bill he signs does not set back women's health coverage by restricting or denying access to abortion coverage.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Senate will likely finish its voting on a health reform bill by Christmas Eve. But we cannot give up the fight then!

We must press hard to get the House-Senate conference committee to fix these health reform provisions.

Keep up the pressure next week, between Christmas and New Year's. Call or visit whenever you can. Email us if you want to write a letter to the editor of your paper. We have samples you can use.

And, after New Year's, be prepared to go all out again, as new actions will be launched to fight for reproductive justice in health reform!

WHY WV FREE STILL SUPPORTS HEALTH REFORM

As outraged as we are over the abortion restrictions, we know the rest of the health reform bill includes provisions that will dramatically improve health coverage for millions of Americans and many West Virginians. What are these provisions?

Medicaid Expansion: Millions of low-income people will get health coverage for the first time. The income eligibility limit would go up (to 133% of poverty, under the Senate bill, and 150% under the House bill). Moreover, everyone earning less than that limit would get coverage. The current requirements that you fit into certain categories (such as pregnant women) would be abolished.

Affordability: Millions more Americans would become eligible to receive federal subsidies to help them buy health coverage.

No gender rating: Insurers would be barred from charging women more than men for the same policy.

No bans on coverage for people with pre-existing conditions: Insurers could no longer deny you coverage because you have a pre-existing condition like cancer.

NO to Nelson Amendment, ACT NOW!

2009-12-07T13:37:00.001-08:00

URGENT: Call NOW to urge Senator Byrd to vote against the anti-choice Nelson amendment!

Senator Byrd needs to hear from you, his pro-choice constituents. Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, is introducing his amendment banning abortion coverage in health reform THIS MOMENT. It will closely mirror the language of the Stupak Abortion Coverage Ban that was added to the House health reform bill under last-minute pressure from the Catholic Bishops.

Senate leadership has devised a strategy of calling for a vote on a motion to table the Nelson amendment. This will require 50 votes. We need Senator Byrd to vote for the motion to table the Nelson amendment.

To reach Senator Byrd's office, call (202) 224-3954. Kindly tell the staffer you'd like to get a message to the Senator and say:

"I'm a pro-choice West Virginian who wants Senator Byrd to vote to table the Nelson amendment in the health reform bill."

We must stop these efforts to hobble what is otherwise an historic step toward quality, affordable health care for all!

Thank you for taking action.

STOP STUPAK NATIONAL LOBBY DAY

2009-11-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, December 2nd, reproductive justice advocates will be convening in DC to lobby our Senators to reject any language in the Senate healthcare reform bill that would restrict women's access to abortion care. In Charleston, we are planning honk n' waves, petition drives, and meetings with Senate staff.

Would you like to be involved? Call (304) 342-9188 for more information!

Phonebanking for women's health!

2009-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

If you would like to make calls with us tonight, calling pro-choice West Virginians to urge them to call our Senators about keeping women's health a priority in ANY healthcare reform bill, please call the WV FREE office at (304) 342-9188.