Traverse City Record-Eagle

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September 25, 2009

Forum: Slashing health care not only option

By Katherine Humphrey

If you're concerned about families needing health care or concerned for Michigan's future, it's time to act.

Michigan is facing a daunting economic crisis. Projections estimate a shortfall of nearly $3 billion for next year. The state budget has been cut every year since 2002 and this year critical state services, like health care and state police troopers, have already been cut.

The Department of Community Health has announced cuts to family planning health centers of 24 percent, cutting services to nearly 20,000 low-income women and men. The Senate proposal is a nearly 50 percent cut, which will close centers and leave tens of thousands of women and men without preventive health care.

The Legislature must find a solution that includes reducing spending through efficiencies in programs, and modernizing our tax system by increasing fees and closing tax loopholes.

Why is it so critical to act now?

First, there are only five days left before the budget deadline, when decisions have to be made.

Second, there are the women and men who count on family planning centers for their basic health care. These centers provide birth control to 175,000 women and men each year. They provide testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and screening for breast and cervical cancers that are less likely to be fatal with early diagnosis and treatment.

As more women and men lose their health insurance, they are turning to family planning centers for basic health care, increasing the demand for already limited resources. These proposed cuts will force providers to close centers, lay off staff and increase fees -- leaving already vulnerable patients with fewer options and higher costs.

If that's not enough, consider this: Simply cutting services only increases other costs to the state. Every dollar spent on family planning services will save the state $6.37 in Medicaid costs next year alone. Cuts to family planning will increase the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions.

And finally there is the future of Michigan. As a long-time President and CEO of Planned Parenthood in our community, I can tell you that our patients are the future of Michigan. They are young women struggling to work and complete their college educations, or young couples with dreams of giving their children opportunities they didn't have. We need to invest in these young families so they can invest in Michigan.

Michigan citizens believe investment is the key to economic growth. A recent poll conducted for the Michigan Fiscal Responsibility Project found 61 percent of respondents agree that after years of cuts to police, fire, roads, higher education, and health care, we can't afford more cuts to services.

Lawmakers need to find a real solution that builds a better future for our state. There are better options than slashing critical state services such as health care for struggling families.

Don't wait. Let your legislators know you expect them to find a solution that doesn't slash critical programs.

For information about how to contact your legislator go to: http://www.michiganvotes.org.

About the author: Katherine Humphrey is President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan, a position she has held since 2007. Prior to that she worked with Planned Parenthood Centers of West Michigan.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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