Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Supports decision of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enforce Medicaid law and to preserve access to preventive and reproductive care for women.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution supporting the decision of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enforce Medicaid law and to preserve access to preventative and reproductive care for women.
Whereas, For over 90 years, Planned Parenthood has provided affordable health care and reproductive health education to women; and
Whereas, One in five American women has received health care services through Planned Parenthood agencies; and
Whereas, More than 90% of Planned Parenthood's services constitute preventative and primary care, including screening for cervical and other cancers, reducing the number of unintended pregnancies through contraception, and reducing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases through testing and treatment; and
Whereas, Federal Medicaid law directs state Medicaid programs to provide individuals with equal access to any willing provider of family planning services and preventative care; and
Whereas, Approximately 48% of Planned Parenthood's patients are Medicaid recipients; and
Whereas, Indiana recently enacted legislation prohibiting Planned Parenthood, and other family planning agencies that provide abortion services, from receiving Medicaid funding; and
Whereas, On June 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States Department of Health and Human Services advised Indiana officials that its restrictive Medicaid state plan amendment would not be approved because it does not comply with federal law; and
Whereas, Legislation, like the law enacted in Indiana clearly violates longstanding Medicaid law and endangers the health of millions of women; and
Whereas, The actions taken by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of longstanding Medicaid law are paramount to preserving access to preventative and reproductive care for women; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House supports the decision of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enforce Medicaid law and to preserve access to preventative and reproductive care for women.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
STATEMENT
This resolution supports the decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enforce Medicaid law and to preserve access to preventive and reproductive care for women.
Indiana recently enacted legislation prohibiting Planned Parenthood, and other family planning agencies that provide abortion services, from receiving Medicaid funding. In response to this legislation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States Department of Health and Human Services advised Indiana officials that its restrictive Medicaid state plan amendment would not be approved because it does not comply with federal law.
For over 90 years, Planned Parenthood has provided women with affordable health care and reproductive health education. More than 90% of Planned Parenthood's services constitute preventative and primary care.
Bills like Indiana's recent legislation, not only violate longstanding federal law, but also endanger the health of millions of women. The actions taken by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in support of longstanding Medicaid law are paramount to preserving access to preventative and reproductive health care for women. This resolution supports the decision of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enforce Medicaid law and to preserve access to preventative and reproductive care for women.