Tag: birth control

On
Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Debating birth control in the public square: use of contraceptives is not just a ‘personal matter’

Making Sense out of Bioethics column by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, in his December 13, 2012 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, argues that the cost of birth control could be reduced by eliminating the required doctor’s visit to get a prescription — making contraception available “over the counter.”

If it were made available this way, it would no longer be reimbursable by health insurance, and people could simply purchase it on their own.

Jindal posits that this approach would result in “the end of birth control politics.” He relies on several simplistic assumptions and inadequate moral judgments, however, as he tries to advance this argument.

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On
Mary C. Uhler

Free birth control? Does not provide real health care or protect conscience rights

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Several things have been bothering me since I heard about the recommendation that the government require coverage of contraceptives in all health plans in our country.

On July 19, the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Preventive Services for Women made public a list of recommendations to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This department has the responsibility to decide which health services will be mandated under the new national health reform law.

The 16-member panel said that all women of reproductive age should have access to “the full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling.” If approved by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, these practices would be mandated for all insurance plans — both public and private — without any co-pays.

In other words, birth control will be provided free of charge. This recommendation is ill-conceived (no pun intended) on so many fronts. It boggles the mind!

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On
Mary C. Uhler

One way to save taxpayer dollars: Stop government funding of Planned Parenthood

editor's view by Mary C. Uhler

We’ve been hearing a great deal about our state and national budget woes and mounting deficits. I think if we encouraged all of us to come up with some concrete solutions, we could save money and still provide necessary services for our citizens.

In my opinion, one way we could save taxpayer dollars is to stop government funding of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). I’m not sure everyone is aware that PPFA is a billion dollar industry which annually receives over $360 million from federal and state funds in the form of grants and contracts.

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