Thank Your Legislator for Passing a Pro-Family Planning Budget!

Thank your Senator and Representative for passing a Pro-Family Planning budget that restores a portion of the family planning funds and provides seed money for a Family Planning Medicaid waiver.

The overriding issue during the 2009 Legislative session was the state budget. Since state revenues have been way down this year, the state faced a huge shortfall and there were across-the-board budget cuts, with family planning and public health being particularly hard hit.

Over the course of the session, however, Planned Parenthood of Georgia and our allies worked hard to make a case for restoring cuts to these programs, and were heartened to see that many of the House and Senate members responsible for the health budget genuinely care about these programs and the people they serve. By the time the FY 2010 budget was passed, and with help from federal stimulus funds, a good portion of family planning and other public health cuts had been restored.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thank You for Passing a Pro-Family Planning Budget!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for supporting the FY 2010 budget that restores family planning funding and provides seed money for a Family Planning Medicaid waiver.

Family planning funding is an investment in the health and well being of Georgia's families. The Medicaid waiver would allow Georgia to expand its Medicaid program to provide contraceptive and pregnancy planning services to low income women. Access to family planning services helps to reduce the rates of unintended pregnancies, teen pregnancies, abortions, sexually transmitted infections, high risk pregnancies and poor birth outcomes in our state.

Thank you for recognizing that family planning funding makes economic sense. Nationally, every public $1 invested in family planning saves at least $4.02. In Georgia, these savings are much higher. With the addition of a Family Planning Medicaid waiver Georgia can join the 27 other states that have adopted this very cost-effective strategy for improving the health of newborns and their mothers.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 08, 2009


Background Information

Budget Details

With the shortfall in state revenues, the spotlight this session was the state budget. This fall Governor Perdue required that all state programs be cut by 6% and family planning funding was disproportionately slashed by a whopping 30% or $7.5 million!  These cuts were implemented in October and the Governor’s proposed FY 2010 budget included an additional $2.5 million family planning funding cut.

By the time the FY 2010 budget was passed, and with help from federal stimulus funds, a good portion of family planning and other public health cuts had been restored.

  • Of the $10 million cut to family planning, we are estimating that $6.1 million was restored for family planning and teen pregnancy prevention initiatives
  • The Senate added language that would have prohibited minors from receiving contraceptives from publicly funded clinics without parental consent. After much advocacy opposing such language, it was removed in conference.
  • We are pleased to report that a small amount was appropriated to start work on a Medicaid family planning waiver:  $25,000 in state dollars for the administration to apply for the waiver; $225,000 for waiver services.  The $25K could draw down another $25,000 in federal matching funds for administrative costs, and the $225,000 would draw down $2,025,000 in federal dollars if we get the waiver.