Planned Parenthood Advocate

A Huge Victory for Women!

After a massive outpouring of concern from Planned Parenthood supporters, President Obama has rejected efforts to cut off access to birth control for millions of women! Sign our thank-you card to President Obama.

Today United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius/the Obama administration announced that it will make no changes to the birth control coverage benefit under the Affordable Care Act. This decision is grounded in sound medical science and health policy and protects access to affordable birth control for millions of women, including women who are employed by a religiously affiliated hospital, university, or other religiously affiliated organization that serves the broader public.

Birth control is not just basic health care for women; it is an economic concern. This commonsense decision means that millions of women who would otherwise pay $15 to $50 a month will have access to affordable birth control, helping them save hundreds of dollars each year.

This benefit does not require that anyone dispense or use birth control.  It is simply a benefit that ensures women have adequate health insurance coverage that includes affordable birth control.

This policy represents one of the greatest advancements for women’s health in decades and ensures that millions of women will have access to affordable birth control. Thank you President Obama! Sign our thank-you card today.

Cervical Cancer Awareness Book Reviews

The cervical cancer/HPV world needs a few more Betty Ford equivalents – people willing to carve through stigma, shame and silence and advocate for those with cervical and other HPV-related cancers in the same fearless way that the former First Lady went to bat for those with breast cancer. Oh, you can already hear the naysayers: Breast cancer is different, they might say, because it’s not caused by human sexual behavior and therefore it’s not anyone’s “fault.” What a cruel and uninformed distinction to make! And what a moral quandary we create when we point exclusively to individual behavior when assessing cancers or illnesses of any kind. Here’s a sampling of a very few books out there about HPV and the cancers it causes, written by people whose willingness to tell their personal stories, expose misinformation, explore scientific advances and address controversy is much to be admired.

Planned Parenthood Releases Updated Report to Mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Calls for Action, Education to Address Preventable Cervical Cancer Rates and Deaths in Minnesota

Today, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) released its updated report on cervical cancer prevention in Minnesota as part of a long-standing effort to raise awareness about the importance of preventive health care for women, men and teens.

Click here to download the report and visit our Your Health Matters page to hear from PPMNS’ health care providers about the need for regular Pap screenings and to learn what’s involved in getting the HPV vaccine.

What Will Health Care Reform Mean For MN Women?

The new federal health care law is moving forward in Minnesota - and will mean real changes in health care for Minnesota women. The "Affordable Care Act" will prevent insurance companies from charging more or dropping coverage for people who are sick. It will offer financial assistance to thousands of individuals who can't afford coverage. It will expand public health care programs available to low-income Minnesota women.

Join TakeAction Minnesota and Planned Parenthood for an informational briefing and conversation about "What Health Care Reform Will Mean for MN Women." Anna Benyo, Senior Health Policy Analyst for National Women's Law Center, will be joining us for this event.

January 12, 2012 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM TakeAction Minnesota
705 Raymond Ave. #100
St. Paul, MN 55114

RSVP today!

Minnesota Choice Coalition’s Roe Anniversary Happy Hour

Join Planned Parenthood and the Minnesota Choice Coalition for a casual and informative evening designed to bring friends and colleagues together to celebrate the anniversary of Roe and discuss how to we can work together to protect choice!

Thursday, January 19th, 2012 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Location: Moto-i, located in Uptown: 2940 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Event is free, but please RSVP to advocacy@ppmns.org if you are planning on attending.

Hope to see you there!

Healthy Legacy Day at the Capitol

Do you want toxic chemicals out of children’s products and our environment? Help us protect the health of children and the environment by joining Planned Parenthood and Healthy Legacy on Valentine’s Day at the Minnesota Capitol. We will be delivering valentines to state lawmakers and talking to them about how they can protect what is precious by supporting state policy that identifies and removes toxic chemicals from children’s bubble bath, toys, and other products.

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Time: 9:30 AM (optional training) 10:00-11:00 AM (deliver valentines) Location: Room 300 South, State Office Building Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul

Let us know if you will be attending. Click here to RSVP.

Pro-Choice Lobby Day 2012

2011 was quite a year at the Minnesota Legislature! The 2011 Legislative Session resulted in the anti-choice House and Senate passing two anti-choice assaults on Minnesota’s women. A bill to strip insurance coverage for low income women’s access to abortion and to ban abortions after 20 weeks were sent to Governor Dayton’s desk and vetoed.

We anticipate much of the same this year!

We must stand united at the Capitol and let our legislators know we will not allow this war on women!

You can help defend Choice by joining us on Feb. 15th for Pro-Choice Lobby Day as we stand together to defend a woman’s right to choose!

Franken expresses disappointment over HHS Plan B Decision

Senator Franken is on a roll! Not only has he been a strong supporter of birth control with no co-pays for all women, he has continued to show his dedication to reproductive health issues by expressing his disappointment with the HHS decision to maintain the status quo on the availability of emergency contraception.

>Thank Senator Franken for taking a stand on EC

Franken joined several Senate colleagues in signing on to a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The letter questions the rationale for choosing to ignore the FDA's recommendation to make emergency contraception available over-the-counter without an age restriction. The Senators write:

Back up your Birth Control

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, chances are you’re solidifying plans and laying out the perfect outfit to welcome in 2012. Maybe you’ve gotten tickets to a party or started a to-do list for the one you’re hosting. Perhaps you’re thinking about laying a kiss on someone at midnight. We’re here to remind you to add birth control back up to that list.

If you can text your grandma on New Year’s, there’s a good chance wilder things can happen…and unless you want New Year’s 2012  following you around (for the next 18 years), you should be prepared.

Planned Parenthood to Expand Hours in Minneapolis

Beginning in January 2012, Planned Parenthood’s Uptown Minneapolis health center will expand its weekday hours and add weekend hours.

“We’ve been a part of the vibrant Uptown community for close to two decades. Now we’ll be open seven days a week, with expanded hours, as a direct response to needs and wishes of our patients,” said Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “In these challenging economic times, it is crucial that women have access to reproductive and basic preventive health care.”

“We are thrilled to be able to give our patients better access to the care they need,” said Stoesz. “It also allows us to serve even more men, women and teens in the area.”