Policy Analysis
Policy Analysis
Policy Analysis
Policy Analysis: S.214 Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act
Griselda Oliveros
Author Note
Abstract
A general stereotype about Planned Parenthood is that the main service they provide are
abortions.
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Policy Analysis 3
There are a lot of misconceptions about Planned Parenthood. One that happens to stand
out the most is the wide spread belief that Planned Parenthoods main service is to provide
abortions to women who have an unintended pregnancy. For those who believe that abortion is
not the way to handle an unplanned pregnancy defunding Planned Parenthood seems to be a
widely followed topic. On January 30, 2017 Senator Joni Ernst proposed a bill that would
subsidiaries, successors, or clinics (Congress.org). In this analysis the topic that will be
discussed will be that this bill should not be passed because the funding that goes to Planned
Planned Parenthood
What is Planned Parenthood? What kind of services do they provide? How did this
agency come into existence? In October 2016, Planned Parenthood turned 100 years strong.
Planned Parenthood was founded on the revolutionary idea that women should have the
information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams no
ceilings, no limits (Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc.). This agency offers more
than just abortions Planned Parenthood also provides services for men. Although they vary by
location some of the services they provide for men are: checkups for reproductive or sexual
health problems, colon, prostate, and testicular cancer screenings, condoms and vasectomy,
erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation services, including education, exams, treatment,
and referral, general health care and routine physical exams, jock itch exam and treatment, male
infertility screening and referral, STD testing and treatment, urinary tract infections testing and
One in five American women has chosen Planned Parenthood for health care at least
once in her life(Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc.). The reason for this comes
down to two simple opportunities that they provide: a sliding scale for pricing and the
specialization in the services they provide. Most of the testing Planned Parenthood provides
would be unaffordable and out of reach for the clients who go there. A sliding scale, based on
income, helps the clients not only get the services they need but at an affordable price. What does
specialization in services mean? This means that services like education, exams, treatment, and
referral, general health care and routine physical exams, jock itch exam and treatment, male
infertility screening and referral, STD testing and treatment, urinary tract infections testing and
treatment (Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc) are what their staff are trained to
educate or practice. The staff at Planned Parenthood are different from general practicing doctors
who may or may not have the specialized training to do things like mammograms, Pelvic
exams, Pap tests, and screenings for breast cancer are all vital health care needs for women. And
for women with abnormal Pap test results, tests and treatments used to prevent cervical cancer
colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP can save lives (Planned Parenthood Federation of
America Inc).
The Roe v Wade case made it possible for women to have the right to have an abortion.
Since then others who view abortion as inhumane or unethical have tried to overturn it, taking
away that right from women who have wanted to get an abortion. We as a pro-life community
honor the civil liberties, independence and strength of a woman - all women, Ernst had said at
Policy Analysis 5
the March for Life on January 27. And that means both supporting mothers and rising up to
protect the most vulnerable in our society - the innocent babies who are unable to defend
themselves. (Catholic News Agency). After learning about the Planned Parenthood officials
apparently engaged in the illegal procurement for sale of human body parts from abortion
(Catholic News Agency) Senator Ernst along with Senator Paul decided to introduce what is now
Throughout much of Western history, abortion was not considered a criminal act as long
as it was performed before "quickening" (the first detectable movement of the fetus, which can
occur between 13-25 weeks of pregnancy) (ProCon.org). Yet as time passed the women started
to need more and more abortions. Organizations like Planned Parenthood who came into
existence in 1916 to help women not only get abortions but to also help educate the public about
the options they have when having to go through a pregnancy. As organizations like these grew
so did the number of people who were against abortions. As mentioned before one particular
problem with Planned Parenthood that really caused an uproar was when a claim was made
stating that Planned Parenthood officials apparently engaged in the illegal procurement for sale
of human body parts from abortion (ProCon.org). Yet no evidence was actually found to support
this claim. Those affected by the defunding of Planned Parenthood would be: men and women
who are in lower economic standing. The reason for this is because the services that are made
available there are priced based on a sliding scale. To qualify for the Sliding Fee Scale, you
MUST show proof of gross annual income for all immediate family members living in your
S.241 - Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act is a bill that has been introduced to
the senate. This bill aims to prohibit federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of
expected to work is by not giving Planned Parenthood federal funds and instead using the funds
now available to fund other womens health services organizations. The way S.241 would be
implemented would be to withdraw any federal funds from Planned Parenthood Federation of
part of the coordination of S.241 All funds no longer available to Planned Parenthood will
continue to be made available to other eligible entities to provide womens health care services
(congress.gov). By providing other eligible entities with the funding that was previously given
to Planned Parenthood the goal of the bill is to give these entities the funds to empower them to
provide services to all persons, regardless of the persons ability to pay, and provide services in
medically underserved areas and to medically underserved populations as they already do. As
for how a sunset law may apply to this it is not clear yet because no revisions have been made to
the bill regarding that. The knowledge base that this policy rests on is Pro-Life movement.
Senator Ernst and those who support this bill believe that abortions are wrong and should not be
The goal of S.241 is not currently legal due to the fact that it goes against the
Constitutions protection of a woman's right to an abortion (law.cornell.edu). Yet the goal is just
and democratic because it is defending the rights of the unborn child. In one way this bill does
contribute to greater social equality because it gives the unborn child a chance to live and be a
Policy Analysis 7
part of society. On the other hand it does violate the mothers right to choose whether she would
like to continue her pregnancy or not. This bill positively affects the agencies who would be
given the funds taken from Planned Parenthood because they would be able to provide current
and new clients with more services. As for Planned Parenthood it would leave them with less
funds to perform the services they currently provide. The target population in this case would be
low income men and women who seek low cost medical services. The only way this population
would benefit from this bill would be if the other agencies would lower their prices and provide
more specialized services for their clients. This bill does not contribute to positive social
relations between the target population and the overall society. The reason why is because
abortion is such a controversial topic, there are those who are in favor of womens right to
choose and there are those who are against it. S. 241 is not consistent with the values of
professional social work. In our ethical commitment to our clients, 1.02, it says Social workers
respect and promote the right of clients to self-determination and assist clients in their efforts to
identify and clarify their goals (Socialworkers.org). It is a social workers duty to show their
clients all of their options, not just the ones the social worker agrees with. This bill will limit the
client from choosing the one that they may need. S.241 is not politically feasible, the reason why
is because everyone has their own viewpoint on abortion and on how it should be done. The
policy would not be effective or efficient because it would limit the lower income population
Conclusion.
When does a zygote become a human being? When should the fetus be considered
someone worth saving? Should the expecting mother be given the right to choose? One way to
prevent the need for abortions is by educating people not only the options they have but by
Policy Analysis 8
showing them the consequences of each. Defunding Planned Parenthood would make it difficult
for this organization to provide the tools necessary to the public. A more effective way to restrict,
yet still fund, Planned Parenthood would be to set certain guidelines and restrictions on who may
and may not get an abortion. The topic of abortion and the rights of an unborn child will remain
References
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Ernst, Joni. (2017). S.241 - Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act. Retrieved
from: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/241/text?q=%7B%22search
%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22immigration%5C%22+%5C%22iowa%5C%22%22%5D%7D
Catholic News Agency. (2017). Senate bill would move womens health funding away
usa/2017/02/06/senate-bill-move-womens-health-funding-away-planned-parenthood/
Dryfoos, J. (1988). Family Planning Clinics--A Story of Growth and Conflict. Family
Laura, D. L., Frost, J. J., Sten, C., & Dailard, C. (2006). The provision and funding of
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accountid=9720
Annas, George J. & Mariner, Wendy K. (2011). Women and Children Last The
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmp1102915#t=article
http://abortion.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006514
Cummings, Elijah. (n.d) The FACTS vs. FICTION on Planned Parenthood. Retrieved
from: https://democrats-oversight.house.gov/planned-parenthood-fact-v-fiction#_ftn1
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health.net/SlidingScale.aspx
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/roe_v._wade_1973
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/Code/code.asp
1. Abstract
a. Stereotype about planned parenthood
b. Describe what planned parenthood is
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