Some Ohio Lawmakers Think Planned Parenthood Cuts Will Benefit Women's Health

COLUMBUS, Ohio –

The bill stripping nearly $1.5-million from Planned Parenthood got its final approval by the House of Representatives.

Some lawmakers say the defunding will actually benefit Ohio women.

“It is a done deal. It only lacks the governor’s signature to become law in the state of Ohio,” Rep. Bill Patmon said.

Patmon, co-author of the bill to defund Planned Parenthood clinics across the state, says he did what he had to do.

He calls his legislation a bill that increases funding and services for women’s health care.

“It’s hard for me to call it a victory when you do what you’re supposed to,” Patmon said.

“I think this is a moment of great shame for Ohio and the Ohio legislators who brought this bill forward,” Stephanie Kight, CEO Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, said. “It’s clear that they don’t understand about the real issues that affect women and healthcare and their families.”  

The defunding has been met with hard opposition and controversy from Planned Parenthood advocates.

They say the redirecting of more than $1.3-million will strip Ohioans of access to critical preventative health care services – like breast and cervical cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment as well as HIV testing.

“And they have always given me the best standard of care that I have ever encountered at any medical provider that I have every visited,” Buxi Lacobone said.  

Lacobone has been a patient since she lost her health insurance in 2012.

“I’ve been going to the statehouse for a long time to advocate on behalf of planned parenthood for those reasons and I keep going back and I feel like I’m not being heard, and I’m not being listened to,” Lacobone said.

Planned Parenthood representatives told supporters at the statehouse their doors will remain open no matter what, and they will continue to move forward as long as they can. But there are a number of services in jeopardy.

“This money is not going away. It’s solely being diverted from Planned Parenthood, which promotes and plans abortions,” Rep. Niraj Antani said.   

Lawmakers who support the bill say the money is going to be diverted to federally qualified health centers – over 200 in the state as opposed to only 28 planned parenthoods.

“The fact that we are funding more locations is a good thing, because it’s more acceptable for folks especially in rural and Appalachian Ohio,” Rep. Antani said. “It’s a win for women’s healthcare.”

“No compelling reason has been presented to me as to why this funding should be cut,” Lacobone said.

Kight says programs that face defunding are all community health programs which include – Healthy moms, Healthy Babies program which specifically targets reducing infant mortality, Violence Against Women which helps women who are victims of domestic violence, and State-wide HIV testing.

“Nobody knows what they’re going to do to replace these programs right now,” she said. “They’re not talking about who is going to step up and do the work that’s been done by Planned Parenthood, in some cases, for more than 20 years. They don’t have those answers.”

Some Ohio Lawmakers Think Planned Parenthood Cuts Will Benefit Women"s Health