Meeting Story #1

Pullman’s local Planned Parenthood of the Greater Washington and North Idaho has had to cut back on staff and drop some of the services it can offer patients due to the Washington State budget cuts to family planning funding, Dustin Hall, member of Students for Choice and Voices for Planned Parenthood, informed students and members last Friday.

Along with the changes in services offered, Pullman’s local Planned Parenthood name has also been recently altered. This year the Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest has been officially combined with the Planned Parenthood of Central Washington, to form Planned Parenthood of the Greater Washington and North Idaho (PPGWNI).

“Planned Parenthood is still dedicated to making reproductive health services available to anyone in need,” said Chelsea Tremblay, President of WSU’s Students for Choice. “They offer payment plans and will work to provide as much assistance as they possibly can”.

The non-profit agency offers its services of healthcare and education to all ages, orientations and genders. Some of these services include gynecological exams, contraceptive education and choices, pregnancy testing, HPV vaccines and counseling.

Through Pullman’s local PPGWNI, Sexually Transmitted Infection screenings are no longer on a sliding fee scale for low income individuals. This means it now costs $100 for a complete STI exam. STI testing can only be preformed by the clinics doctor, who is currently available every other Tuesday and Thursday. The limited availability of the clinic’s doctor is due to lack of staff, also caused by the budget cut.

HIV testing is no longer offered at any of the Planned Parenthood clinics. For local HIV testing, the Inland Oasis HIV Program in Moscow Idaho offers free screening on Sundays from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

The Pullman PPGWNI clinic does not offer abortions in its facility. However, they do provide counseling services and information about the procedure. A woman requesting an abortion will be referred, and assisted with transportation if necessary, to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Spokane where the process can be completed.

The 2009 budget cuts have decreased the services and staff members that Planned Parenthood clinics have been able to provide for patients. The non-profit organization will be potentially faced with an even bigger setback this year.

In Gov. Gregoire’s 2010 proposed budget, the Washington State family planning funding is scheduled to be cut by $3 million on July 1, 2010. This could result in 12,500 low-income Washington State residents losing access to family planning services, according to the Planned Parenthood Public Policy Network of Washington, (ppaction.org).
“This budget cut will affect numerous WSU students” Tremblay said.

Tremblay encouraged students to take action by sending letters to legislature and by signing up to attend Coug day at the Capitol.

The annual Coug day at the Capitol is an opportunity for student’s voices to be heard by legislature regarding their concerns about the family planning services budget cut and other political issues. The event will be held in Olympia February 14-16. In order to attend the event students are required to attend one of three informational sessions along with a $25 cash or check payment.

Students can register and find more information about Coug day at the Capitol online at:
http://aswsu.wsu.edu/current_projects_coug_day_at_the_capital.aspx.






Contact information:

Chelsea Tremblay – President of Students for Choice
(907) 518-0952

Dustin Hall—Member of Voice for Planned Parenthood (VOX) and Students for Choice
(253) 208-0290

Trisha Christensen—President of Voice for Planned Parenthood (VOX)
(509) 551-3017

Lindsey Taylor – Secretary of Voice for Planned Parenthood (VOX)
(206) 920-8694

Planned Parent of the Greater Washington and North Idaho, Pullman WA
(509) 334-1525



Planned Parenthood Public Policy Network of Washington
http://www.ppaction.org/ppaow/alert-description.tcl?alert_id=19229540


Meeting Outline
What will happen?
• Pullman’s local Planned Parenthood has had to limit and drop some of its reproductive health care services and staff.
• New to 2010, the Pullman Planned Parenthood clinic has been merged. It is now referred to as the Planned Parenthood of the Greater Washington and North Idaho.


Why is this happening?
• The national economic crisis is making it necessary for states to make budget cuts.


What is the extent?
• In addition to the 2009 budget cuts to family planning funding, the 2010 proposed budget cuts to family planning funding is $3 million on July 1, 2010.

• If passed, this budget cut will close at least 19 more family planning services clinics (over ¼ of all the low-income family planning clinics in Washington State). This will affect approximately 12,500 more people who will lose access to these services. (Planned Parenthood Public Policy Network of Washington).

What is the response?
• People who need reproductive health services are being denied because the lack of state funding.
• Citizens of Washington State are being asked to write letters to legislature addressing the issue.
• Coug day at the Capitol is an opportunity for students to get involved for the funding deficit, because it affects many of our college students.