On August 20th, Planned Parenthood announced its withdrawal from the receipt of federal funding from the Title X program. This funding was a federal grant that gave low income men and women access to essential health care and reproductive services. They announced the withdrawal because they did not want to comply with a new “gag rule” from the Trump’s administration, which would prevent doctors and staff from counseling patients about abortions.

Since the 1970’s, Planned Parenthood has received funds through Title X, which has served to help people of all backgrounds, races, and income. More than 40% of the patients of Planned Parenthood received healthcare through the program. It has helped people get cancer screenings, gynecology exams, and contraceptives at low cost.  For many people, it is their only option for health care.  Previously, Planned Parenthood received about $60 million per year through Title X. However, the organization determined that President Donald Trump’s new rule would amount to taking away women’s basic rights.  Banning doctors from discussing the option of safe and legal abortion with women is not a restriction that Planned Parenthood will tolerate. As a consequence of Planned Parenthood’s withdrawal from the program, it will likely be more difficult to access birth control and health care, including screenings for sexually transmitted diseases.  Planned Parenthood does not feel it would be fair to control women what information they receive and believes that women should be informed of all choices and options for healthcare, including abortion.

Planned Parenthood will keep its “doors open,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood’s acting President and CEO. McGill said the actions being made will affect many people. This will have a toll on many states, where the organization plays a major role in providing help to lower income people. Millions of people in the United States who received health care through the program will be impacted greatly as they now have to seek self pay providers. Without Planned Parenthood centers around, people will lose access to basic health care including screening for sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, and family planning services.

As of now, Planned Parenthood is moving forward and will carry on with providing care to patients, including access to safe and legal abortions. Some states are taking action to lessen the impact of Planned Parenthood’s withdrawal from Title X, such as Vermont and Illinois, who will step in to help replace the federal funding. However, as a result of losing federal funding, Planned Parenthood will have to raise prices in many states, which will limit access to those with low income.