2009 News

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Planned Parenthood of Indiana Needs Community Support Now More Than Ever

We're here to separate fact from fiction, but before we do that, the single most important message here is that to effectively reduce the incidence of abortion, we must educate and we must ensure access to affordable birth control:

Myth: Health care reform would result in the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.

Reality: Currently, the majority of insurance plans already cover basic reproductive health care, including abortion care. In fact, more than 86 percent of employer-based insurance plans now cover abortion care. That's why anti-choice groups are working so hard to strip reproductive health care from reform packages—in order to strip women of coverage they currently have.

Myth: Taxpayer money would be used to pay for abortions in the public plan.

Reality: Opponents of reproductive health care are trying to confuse people into thinking that the public plan is a government-funded health plan like Medicaid or Medicare—it is not. The public health insurance plan would operate like any private insurance plan would. It would be funded and paid for by private individual premiums, in the same way a private insurance plan is. Therefore, there is no reason to treat any coverage issue, including abortion coverage, differently in the public health insurance plan than in private plans.

Myth: Health care reform would "mandate" abortion coverage.

Reality: Nothing in any of the current health care reform proposals mandates abortion coverage, or any other type of health care procedure. Opponents of women's health and health care reform are trying to hijack health care reform to push for unprecedented prohibitions on abortion coverage in the private marketplace. Women in America have the most to gain and also the most to lose from health care reform. After all, women are the largest users, and purchasers, of health care, and women make the majority of the health care decisions for their families. If our opponents have their way, women could be left worse off after health care reform, by losing access to health care and to their provider of choice.

Health care reform is an important goal, but it can't come at the expense of women's health. As the leading provider of contraception and other reproductive health care in America, Planned Parenthood will continue to stand up for the health of women and their families.

You can do your part to set the record straight on health care reform by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, or simply by talking with friends, family, or co-workers. It's critical that we all set the record straight and educate others about women's health and community providers like Planned Parenthood.

Indiana's members of Congress must know that people are paying attention to women's health care and that women mustn't be worse off after heath care reform than they are today, so stay informed and make sure they hear from YOU, their constituents! Your support during this crucial time is most appreciated.

If you're interested in helping us out with this campaign or for any other reproductive justice issue, contact us and we'll get you on board!

Continue checking out our Advocates website to stay informed.

Summer, Special Session and Reasons to Continue Working Toward a Pro-Choice Indiana

June 9, 2009

Note in response to Dr. Tiller's death:

The beginning of summer was marked by a tragic loss for pro-choice advocates all over the country and the world. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana (PPAI) and Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) join the numerous organizations and individuals who are shocked by the murder of Dr. Tiller in Wichita, Kansas and are mourning his loss.

The outpouring of sadness and anger, from the Planned Parenthood family and beyond, as a result of this tragedy only serves to recommit us to our mission. If you are interested in doing something to brighten the day of Planned Parenthood staff members at a health center near you, please e-mail advocates@ppin.org to see how you can help.

Thank you for your continued support during this especially trying time for reproductive rights. We will continue to move forward with open hearts, but vigilance too.

Planned Parenthood Advocates (PPAI) of Indiana is kicking off the summer with a focus on two areas—a new campaign promoting nationwide reproductive health care for all and the Indiana General Assembly's special session.

First, in coordination with our national office (Planned Parenthood Federation of America), we will be at festivals and holding community-oriented house parties and events promoting "I've Got a Plan!"—a plan for national health care that includes access to affordable, reproductive care.

The White House and Congress have laid out an aggressive timeline to address health care reform this summer. As the nation's most trusted reproductive health care provider and an integral part of America's health care safety net, Planned Parenthood and our supporters need to be a part of the process to ensure that our health centers and services are included in the final health care reform plan. We'll have more details posted soon, but if you're interested in helping us out with this campaign, e-mail advocates@ppin.org and we'll get you on board!

Second, Governor Daniels has announced that the special session of the Indiana General Assembly (IGA) will start on June 11 and not end until the state has a budget. PPAI will once again be monitoring the IGA to ensure that no anti-choice language is slipped into the budget at the last minute. PPAI will also be watching the special session to ensure legislators' focus stays on passing a budget that is best for all Hoosiers and that they don't get distracted during this important time for our state. Passing a budget is critical to ensuring that Hoosiers continue to have access to needed health care services that safety net providers like PPIN provide which is especially critical in this economic downturn. Keep checking our Advocates homepage to stay informed.

With the election of a pro-choice president, we have seen a rise in anti-choice extremism (including right here in our own state when President Obama spoke at Notre Dame in South Bend). Your public support for reproductive rights is needed to push the pro-choice movement forward in the Hoosier state. Thank you for all that you do, and never hesitate to contact us with questions or ideas about promoting choice in Indiana.

The 2009 Regular Indiana General Assembly Session

April 30, 2009

Women and men's reproductive health care was tossed around like a political football during this year's regular Indiana General Assembly (IGA) session. Zealous, right-wing groups and legislators staged massive attacks on numerous reproductive health care issues, including access to abortion and medically-sound education, and made blatant attempts to defund Planned Parenthood of Indiana—the state's largest provider of preventive reproductive health care.

Lawmakers spent so much time focusing on reproductive health care that they failed to pass a state budget - their only constitutional duty. Now they have to go into special session. Please be aware that even though legislation that would erode access to abortion failed to win approval in the regular session, it could still pop back up during the special session. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana (PPAI) will closely monitor events during the special session and keep you updated if there are any developments on the reproductive health care front.

We are mystified and frustrated at the decisions made by some of Indiana's lawmakers during the regular session. Legislation that defies all common sense moved farther this session than it has in years, and direct shots at Hoosier women's rights to safe and legal abortions were repeatedly fired in the Indiana General Assembly.

Please take the time to learn more about how reproductive rights are not to be taken for granted in the Hoosier state and review the Good (yes, there are some wonderful legislators who truly care about our issues!), the Bad and the Ugly of the 2009 IGA.

Those who believe in a woman's right to all reproductive choices do have a voice in this state. It's about time to start using it.

Senate Bill 89 passes through the Indiana House of Representatives

April 17, 2009

The Indiana House has dealt an enormous blow to reproductive rights by passing Senate Bill 89. The measure would mandate that doctors who perform surgical procedures, including abortions, have hospital admitting privileges in the county where the procedure is performed or in an adjacent county. The House passed the legislation April 15 by a vote of 73-20.

Even though the bill has been approved by both legislative chambers, there is still a chance to make a difference. The bill now moves on to a joint House-Senate conference committee where lawmakers will try to iron out differences between the two versions of the bill. We will continue to fight to see that this legislation does not become law.

The fight so far has proven that Indiana is home to some amazing elected representatives who truly care about a woman’s right to choose. We could not be more thankful to those legislators who carried amendments that would have lessened the restrictions set forth by the legislation or those who spoke out against moving SB 89 forward on the House floor—calling it out for what it really is—a direct attack on abortion access in Indiana.

Our supporters are also amazing. On two separate occasions, we asked you, our supporters, to write your legislators and let them know that SB 89 was not legislation you wanted to see passed in Indiana. On the first occasion, nearly 650 of you responded. On the most recent occasion, more than 720 of you responded. Thank you so much.

We have now seen the true colors of many Indiana politicians. We have 52 state legislators on record voting against the protection of birth control for Hoosier women. This common-sense approach helps reduce the number of abortions by helping solve the real problem—unintended pregnancies.

Update on the Indiana General Assembly

March 19, 2009

On March 18, 2009, the Indiana House Committee on Public Policy heard Senate Bill 89—legislation that would mandate that doctors who perform abortions have hospital admitting privileges in the county where the abortion is performed or in an adjacent county. After more than 30 minutes of testimony from anti-choice organizations regarding SB 89, the committee reached its time limit.

Thankfully, Public Policy Committee Chair Trent Van Haaften (D-Mount Vernon) declared that the bill will be on the committee's schedule for next week (Wednesday, March 25), giving the numerous pro-choice supporters the chance to speak out against the legislation and outline what it really is—a stealth tactic to eliminate Hoosier women's access to abortion.

For more than 36 years, abortion has remained a safe, legal and rare procedure in the state of Indiana. This is the first time in three years that the Indiana House of Representatives has taken anti-choice and anti-women legislation into consideration after it passed through the Indiana Senate. If passed, Senate Bill 89 would make it nearly impossible for any women outside Marion County to receive an abortion.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana have set up an email campaign where you can email the members of the House Public Policy Committee or Patrick Bauer, the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives in opposition to this legislation. We urge you to take action—especially if your representative is a member of the Public Policy Committee.

Here is a quick run-down on SB 89:

• SB 89 will not improve the health and safety of patients.
• Abortion is among the safest medical procedures performed today. It is unnecessary and unreasonable to single it out for legislation. Less than 0.3% of patients experience a complication that requires hospitalization.
• This legislation would create barriers to women's access to basic health care by adding to the regulatory and bureaucratic environment for doctors who provide health care services in Indiana.
• This isn't about patient safety, and this kind of regulation does nothing to improve health care in our state.


• Abortion Providers are already subject to strict regulations.
• All doctors must secure and maintain their right to practice in Indiana through the state medical licensing board. Any medical professional or member of the public who questions the quality of care a doctor provides can file complaints with that board and have them investigated.
• Complaints may also be made to the State Department of Health. Only two complaints have been made over the last three years, and both were investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.
• There are less than ten doctors who routinely provide abortion services in Indiana, and one doctor is often the provider for several health centers. SB 89 would require doctors to have hospital privileges in multiple counties, which poses an unnecessary and prohibitive burden to the performance of the procedure.


• SB 89 would unconstitutionally restrict women's access to abortion in Indiana.
• There are only five of Indiana's 92 counties in which abortion services are performed. One in four women already travels more than 50 miles to receive an abortion.
• There are many counties which no longer have public hospitals, placing the decision on whether to grant privileges directly on private hospitals with no limitations or guidance from the government on how they grant admitting privileges.

We're at the Half-Way Point!

March 2, 2009

The 2009 Indiana General Assembly is at its midpoint and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana (PPAI) is preparing for the crossover of bills from their chamber of origin to the opposite chamber. Our focus has been on ensuring that Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) can continue providing low-cost reproductive health care for Hoosier women. Seven Prevention First bills were authored and assigned to committees in both chambers. That was a big step for Hoosier reproductive health care!

Unfortunately, two anti-choice measures were passed by the Indiana Senate: Bills 89 and 90. PPAI is hopeful that the House of Representatives will understand that neither of these bills protects the health and wellness of Hoosiers.

In the past week, Representative Jackie Walorski's (R-Jimtown) attempts to defund PPIN in the House of Representatives really activated our supporters. Thanks to the work of nearly 600 of our best activists, the House was flooded with communication in support of us. Thankfully, a majority of the House members determined Rep. Walorski's amendment was not related to the subject of the bill and failed to advance.

As always, we will remain vigilant over the next two months as the second half of the General Assembly session unfolds. However, the continued fight for proactive, preventive, comprehensive health care is something we must all continue—which is why we will soon be reaching out to our supporters and asking them to attend Third House Meetings in communities all over the state.

We need your help! You can continue to advocate for reproductive rights by contacting your legislators in the House of Representatives and informing them that Senate Bills 89 and 90 are dangerous threats to the reproductive wellness of all Indiana citizens. If you have any questions about how to do this, please e-mail advocates@ppin.org.

Get Ready to Advocate for Hoosier Reproductive Rights!

January 12, 2008

2009 is here...Which also means the beginning of a new Indiana General Assembly is here.

The legislative session began on January 7, and as early as the first day, numerous bills had already been filed, including a handful of anti-choice bills and pro-choice bills. Check out our legislative page for a full listing of the bills PPAI will be watching throughout the general assembly.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana is pleased to say that all four of the Prevention First bills were authored in the Senate. We are also very excited to announce that for the first time ever, two Prevention First bills have been authored in the Indiana House of Representatives!

With the bills in place for us to move forward in support of the Prevention First initiatives, we are asking advocates to take part in one of the numerous activities that will be taking place through and beyond the legislative session in 2009, including:

• Becoming a Capitol Activist! Are you the kind of person who likes to be present when the action takes place at the state house? Last year, our group of Capitol Activists sat in and testified at numerous committee meetings and made our presence as supporters of reproductive rights known to Indiana legislators. This year will be no different. If you live in or near the capital city, email sonia.santana@ppin.org and let her know you want to become a Capitol Activist!
• Joining our Writers' Circle! Maybe you don't live close enough to the Statehouse or have enough time to drive down and sit in on committee hearings. But you still want your voice heard and you want to let your community know you are a supporter of reproductive rights. The Planned Parenthood Advocates Writers' Circle will help you craft letters to the editor of your local newspaper, and even help you learn how to write and be featured as a guest columnist! Email ashley.plummer@ppin.org if you want to be part of the Writers' Circle!
• Subscribe to our Advocates' Legislative Newsletter! We'll keep you updated on a more regular basis on what's going on at the Statehouse as well as what is going on in your area to support our legislative initiatives. Email advocates@ppin.org if you wish to be on this mailing list.

As always, you can also become an Advocate for as little as $10 and subscribe to our Action Network to receive campaign alerts. Please continue to return here for updates and check out our PAC site as we update our Indiana legislators' voting records throughout the entire session.

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