Roe v Wade Anniversary Event and RHA!

Hey all, sorry it's been a while since we've had an update. Things, as you can imagine, have been a little nuts around here.

This Tuesday, Jan 22, is the anniversary of the passage of Roe v Wade, making access to safe, legal
abortion the law of the land. With the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court, we have been worried about the future of Roe v Wade. Therefore, we decided to have our annual Roe v Wade event on the actual anniversary this year.

The event begins at 5:30PM on 1/22/19 at the Renaissance Hotel in Albany. Tickets include beer, wine and soda, and hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. We will be honoring Eleanor's Legacy and the NYS Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus, and our Keynote speaker for the evening will be NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.  We would love for you to join us, and you can purchase your ticket here.

The other amazing thing going on that day, is the long-awaited passage (we hope) of the Reproductive Health Act (RHA).  If you're not sure what that is, here are some cliff's notes.

• NYS legalized abortion three years before Roe v Wade, and is out of date. RHA will make it consistent with federal law.
• One of the ways it is inconsistent with federal law, is that it is listed in the NYS penal code, not the health code. We hope to remedy that with RHA.
• Our antiquated state law lacks a health exception, forcing individuals to leave our state for care later in pregnancy, in the rare and tragic cases when their health is at risk or a fetus is not viable.

This has been ten years in the making, so we will be gathering at the Capitol to rally and hopefully witness the passage of the bill on the Assembly and Senate floors. Please join us for this exciting and important moment. We will be gathering at three. The details are in the facebook event I linked to above, but it is important that you register if you plan to join us. This is a free event, but we need to have a tally of who will be joining us for security purposes.

This is a very exciting time to be a New Yorker, which is refreshing when juxtaposed with all the terrible nonsense happening in Washington. We hope you will join us!

Pink Out, June 2017

Last night, about 350 supporters came out to show legislators in Washington that we will not accept any shady health care bill that will defund Planned Parenthood and is not in the best interest of women all over the country.  As the sun set, we collectively lit up Capitol Park in pink, and blasted power anthems to tell our legislators in session that we will not give up the fight! Check out some powerful photos below, and the full album here.  If you'd like to get involved, please reach out to Nicole C at 518-434-5678 x 137, or nicolec@uhpp.org.

Letter to the Editor: Planned Parenthood defunding will be costly

Originally posted by the Albany Times Union

For a century, doctors, clinicians and staff at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country have opened their doors and cared for patients. They answer the questions that patients can't or don't want to ask anyone else, and they give accurate, unbiased information that is needed to make some of the most important decisions that will ever be made about their health and lives.

If politicians defund Planned Parenthood, they won't be striking a line from the federal budget. Far from it in fact, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that defunding Planned Parenthood would cost taxpayers $130 million over 10 years.

Planned Parenthood, like every other doctor's office or hospital, is reimbursed for the care it provides to patients who rely on public health programs like Medicaid. That means the people who would be most hurt are those already struggling to get by and those who already face barriers to accessing health care, especially people of color, people with low incomes and people who live in rural areas. For many of these patients, there is nowhere else to go for care.

Patients don't go to Planned Parenthood to make a political statement. They go for compassionate, affordable, high-quality health care. Every person, no matter who they are or how much money they make, deserves that kind of care. We cannot allow politicians to take it away.

Carolyn M. Ehrlich

Albany

Letter to the Editor: Patients deserve good health care

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 5, 2010 shows a pregnant woman walking outside the State Department in Washington, DC. Morning sickness is linked to a lower risk of miscarriage, according to research out September 26, 2016 that suggests a woman's nausea and vomiting early in pregnancy may have protective effects for the fetus. Between 50 and 80 percent of pregnant women report feeling nauseous or throwing up during their first trimester, said the findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine. 

Originally posted by the Times Union

Published 4:14 pm, Saturday, May 13, 2017

Photo: TIMOTHY SLOAN

As a health care provider in Albany, I know firsthand that Planned Parenthood health centers are a necessary resource. Without Planned Parenthood's care, the health of thousands of people across the state is at stake. Many of the patients I serve have nowhere else to turn for proper health care or education. I see people every day who rely on our health centers for preventive services like birth control, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and cancer screenings.

I've consoled the fearful and spoke honestly and compassionately with the frustrated. I've celebrated the overcoming of fears — from getting vital test results to having a pelvic exam. I've rejoiced in the pride of being able to make an informed decision — about things from birth control to treatment options.

This is care that people deserve and these are services that public health experts say cannot be absorbed elsewhere if Planned Parenthood is defunded. The Senate needs to block any attempt to attack the care Planned Parenthood provides to thousands of people in New York state and here in Albany.

Brianna Samson

Slingerlands

MORE events at Planned Parenthood!

Upcoming Lobby Visits! As the stakes get higher UHPP is committed to meeting with local elected officials on behalf of women and families in the Capital Region and we want you with us. Now more than ever it is crucial that we make our voices heard and demand protection for Planned Parenthood healthcare services in New York State! Join us next week as we meet with local New York State Senators and voice our concerns. Do you live in the 46th Senate District? Join UHPP Monday, March 20th at 11:00am to visit with Senator George A. Amedore and remind him that women and families in New York are watching. Register for the visit HERE Do you live in the 44th Senate District? Join UHPP Tuesday, March 21st at 1:30pm to visit with Senator Neil Breslin to thank him for his continued support of Planned Parenthood. Register for the visit HERE PATIENT STORIES NEEDED! If you are a current or former patient of Planned Parenthood and would like to share your story that we can use in our media outreach please email Katherine at katherine@uhpp.org. Upcoming Events to Support Planned Parenthood!   Saturday, March 18th: I Stand with Planned Parenthood Rally in Hudson!  Join the Columbia County Democrats and Planned Parenthood at Public Square at the 7th Street Park in Hudson on Saturday, March 18th from 2 to 4 pm. The snow will not deter us! It is vital to show the community support for Planned Parenthood. Come out and show your support for unfettered access to women’s healthcare, LGBTQ healthcare and access to abortion services. Speakers will include Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Hudson Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton, Dr. Richard Collens, Vice President of Development at Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Curran Streett, Pastor Kim Singletary from Overcomers Ministries International Church in Hudson, Amber Harris, former Youth Health Educator from Columbia County, Carol Peckham from the Columbia County ACA Taskforce and Cyndy Hall from the Columbia County Democrats. There is uncertainty ahead and Planned Parenthood is being attacked. But, one thing is for sure — we will never back down, and we will never stop fighting to make sure that patients are able to access the care they need. The days ahead will not be easy, but we will all work together to ensure that Planned Parenthood is here, caring for patients, for the next 100 years. RSVP on Facebook and SHARE. We need to have a big crowd! Monday, March 20: Petition Drop and Rally at Congressman Faso's Office in Kinderhook  Please join us at Congressman Faso's office on Monday, March 20 at 4:30 pm to 6 pm at 2 Hudson Street in Kinderhook as we deliver thousands of petitions from constituents who want him to know WE STAND WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD. As most of you know, Congressman Faso has stated publicaly he would not vote to defund Planned Parenthood and that he understands the important services we provide to our communities. We want to let him know we appreciate his support and that we expect him to vote no on any legislation, including stand alone or ACA repeal, that includes language to defund Planned Parenthood. This will be a positive rally that demonstrates the depth of support Planned Parenthood has in Congressional District NY19. Why is it so important now? Tucked into the Affordable Care Act repeal bill is a dangerous provision blocking Medicaid patients from Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide. We need to show Congressman Faso that YOU ARE a part of the overwhelming majority that opposes defunding care at Planned Parenthood health centers. Let's show him we will be ready to fight to protect reproductive health and rights in his district. RSVP and SHARE on Facebook! Thursday, March 23: Comedy Show to Benefit Planned Parenthood in Albany Thursday, March 23rd from 7:30 to 9 pm. Erin Harkes expands her monthly Chick's Are Funny show to raise money for the UHPP! Erin Harkes headlines a night of comedy with other local ladies Jennifer McMullen, Dre Cerbin, Dee Watson and host Katherine Gaultier.  RSVP here! Sunday, April 2 Rise and Shine Breakfast at the Blue Plate in Chatham  Join Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood at the Blue Plate in Chatham located at 1 Kinderhook Street from 11 am to 1:30 pm on Sunday, April 2. This fundraiser will support our beautification project for the Hudson health center including the purchase of a new sign! Call Jonathan at 518.912.9031 for cost and to RSVP. Tuesday, April 4: Teach-in: Defunding Planned Parenthood and the Future of Rural Healthcare in Columbia County Event will be held at Hudson Library located at 51 N. 5th Street in Hudson from 6 to 8 pm.  Join Claire Parde, Executive Director of the Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium and Chelly Hegan, President/CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood to talk about the future of healthcare in Columbia County. We will discuss increasing access to quality health care through collaboration, education, information and service delivery. You will learn what defunding would mean to our local Planned Parenthood affiliate, what it means to others affiliates in our state and nationwide. You will learn about the Hyde Amendment, Title X and how Medicaid funding works and how that all affects Planned Parenthood. The event is FREE and OPEN to the public. Please RSVP on Facebook and SHARE! If you have any questions or want to get involved, email Nicole at nicolec@uhpp.org or call 518.434.5678, ext. 137.

"Viagra Versus the Pill;" Should Insurance Cover Both?

Lisa Campo-Engelstein, Ph.D. of Albany Medical College posted an illuminating piece regarding the hypocrisy behind the fact that Viagra is covered by insurance, yet there is a constant brouhaha over the coverage of birth control pills.  Far be it from me to imply that healthy sexuality is elective; I understand how vital healthy sexual potency is for well-being of individuals and relationships.  But it does seem as if there is an unfair balance in that regard.  If sexual potency is important, isn't also choosing when or when not to become parents?  Especially when raising a child beyond one's means costs the taxpayer so much more?

Dr. Campo-Engelstein points out:

"Some feminists argue that part of the reason we understand and treat pregnancy and impotence differently is because we have different standards for women's and men's health, which result from the traditional gender norms at play in our society. We (as a society) expect women to adhere to norms of chastity (e.g. fall on the “virgin” side of the virgin/whore dichotomy by not having sex until marriage) and one way we do this is by limiting their access to sexual and reproductive health care. In contrast, because our notions of masculinity are tied into sexual prowess, we are more receptive to providing health care for men who are not able to maintain an erection."

Further:

"The ACA includes contraception as a form of preventive care because it recognizes the risk unintended pregnancy poses to the women, their partners, the children, and their families, as well as the public more broadly."

If the last bit is true (and it is), then why are people trying to restrict access to this vital preventative service?

It really boils down to the basics; patriarchy. The article goes into much greater detail about the misalignment of what is considered necessary healthcare for women vs men, and its potential effects on women. I highly recommend giving it a look, and tell your friends. The fight isn't over until the needs of women are considered just as important to those of men.

Sorry Yosemite

Today, as I sat down to my computer and opened my web browser, I was greeted by another lovely Google Doodle commemorating the anniversary of something terrific.  You've probably seen it already.




No cake for you, Yosemite.

 



That's right-- Yosemite is turning 123 today! Huzzah! Break out the candles and party hats!

Actually, no. Yosemite will have to spend its birthday all alone-- well, without human visitors, anyway-- because the government shut it down today. Not to over-anthropomorphize a swath of land, but it seems sad.  Though 123 is hardly a milestone-- which makes me ponder Google's motives-- a birthday is a birthday.

The actual humans hardest hit by today's government shutdown are the over 800,000 "non-essential" federal employees who will have to be furloughed, meaning their jobs-- and their paychecks-- are put on hold until Congress and the Senate sort this mess out. 

Why is this happening?  You are sure to receive a different response based on whether you ask a Democrat or a Republican.  Democrats say that it is because the Republican-controlled House is essentially holding the government hostage until they get the amendments they want passed along with the budget. The major amendment in question, is the delay of Obamacare.

Republicans say that it is because Obamacare, as it is written, is unconstitutional, could be disastrous to the economy, and allowing it to go into effect right now would be irresponsible.

Okay.  Here are the facts: "Obamacare," or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was signed into law three years ago. Why is this happening now, on the day it is supposed to go into effect-- especially when ACA really doesn't even have anything to do with the budget?

Not content to just let sleeping dogs lie, The House is determined to delay or outright repeal ACA, even though 60% of Americans support it, and in 2010 it passed in both the House and the Senate. In 2012, it was under attack by the House, with conservatives challenging its constitutionality.  The Supreme Court ruled that it was not unconstitutional, because:

"According to Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution, “Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it. . . .” This is how Obamacare became the law of the land. The House passed the Senate’s version of the health care bill on March 21, 2010 by a vote of 219 to 212. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by the president two days later." --Jonathan Capehart, Washington Post

So really, these attacks are nothing new.  It wouldn't even be the first time the House threatened to shut down the government based on provisions that they wanted in the budget.  Unfortunately, it is the first time in 17 years that it actually happened.

Hopefully it won't take them long to sort this out, because 800,000 Americans aren't getting paid anymore, and that would be disastrous to the economy.  It could take a day, or even weeks.

Obamacare doesn't have to be a dirty word. Health Care Reform should be a good thing.  If our elected officials would just put on their grown-up pants and work together on this, the country can get back to business.