Reproductive Health and Rights Advocacy Groups Respond to Trump Birth Control Mandate
October 6, 2017 1:00 pm
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—Today, the Trump Administration issued rules that would allow nearly all employers to deny their employees insurance coverage for contraception if the employer has a religious or moral objection.
This rule, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, rolls back a benefit provided by the Affordable Care Act. Under the previous protection, millions of women across the United States became eligible for no-cost contraception.
As a result of these rules, a person could lose contraception coverage simply because their boss has a personal objection to it.
In New Mexico, we’ve worked hard to preserve contraception protections and have actually expanded access to it. Just this year, New Mexico became the fourth state to allow pharmacists to directly prescribe contraception.
The following organizations are issuing the following statements in response to this rule:
“In New Mexico, we respect every person’s right to make the personal health decisions that are best for them. All individuals deserve access to birth control no matter where they happen to work or go to school. We’re disappointed but not surprised that the Trump Administration is assaulting women’s health under the guise of religious liberty. Religious liberty does not give people the right to impose their beliefs on others, to harm others, or to discriminate.” said Erin Armstrong, Reproductive Rights Attorney, ACLU of New Mexico.
“New Mexican women and families must be able to keep important decisions about if and when they become parents in their own hands. People of all faiths both use and support contraception access. This rule is another attempt at restricting our families' decision making. These are not our values in New Mexico,” said Denicia Cadena, Policy Director, Young Women United
"At Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, we proudly stand by increasing access to reproductive health care, that includes access to birth control. Last year we distributed over 10,000 forms of birth controls (such as pills, IUDs, rings) to our patients in New Mexico. This administration's actions against women are unacceptable. 9 out of 10 women will use birth control in her lifetime, that isn't controversial, it is health care," said Sarah Taylor-Nanista, Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
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