Dear Editor:
While Medicaid still has not been expanded to the 300,000 Missourians who are employed without health care, at least we can be glad that the attempt to rob more people of health care has been thwarted.
Rightly, Gov. Jay Nixon declared the taking of federal Medicaid funding away from clinics also providing abortions to be fiscally irresponsible. It would also be callous and hypocritical. Taking funding away from Planned Parenthood because they also provide abortion services would strip funding from thousands who go to these clinics for birth control, mammograms, pap smears, and STI testing.
Provision of such health screenings for low-income individuals are critical to a healthy population. If Republican claims to be pro life were genuine, they would care about how these radical cuts would affect their constituents who depend upon Planned Parenthood clinics. Taking away this funding would not only greatly reduce the number of health screenings available to working Missourians with lower incomes, but would also reduce their access to birth control, which obviously prevents unintended pregnancies.
The Missouri Legislature's attempt to strip all health care funding from Planned Parenthood clinics makes no sense at all. Truly pro life legislators would increase the funding for these providers, and expand Medicaid, allowing thousands more Missourians to access the health care and medication they need to stay healthy and alive.
The Missouri Chapter of the National Organization for Women advocates for access to health care as a basic human right.
__________
Issue-oriented letters to the editor are welcome. All letters should be limited to 400 words; letters may be edited to conform to guidelines. The author's name must appear with the letter, and the name, address and phone number provided for verification. Letters that cannot be verified by telephone will not be published. Email to [email protected].