Healthcare Reform and the Impact on Pregnancy Centers

The following article is reprinted with permission from Care Net, our National Affiliate Organization.

Care Net is extremely concerned about taxpayer-funded abortion in the healthcare reform bill and what it means for our nation's pregnancy centers. Not only does the bill make the work of pregnancy centers more difficult, it also makes our work more critical than ever before.

Specifically, the Executive Order to be issued by President Obama does not adequately address the following pro-life concerns of pregnancy centers. In addition, federal courts will enforce what the law says, not the executive order, and it can be overturned at any moment without a vote.

1. Research has shown that if abortions are covered in a public healthcare plan, they will increase! According to Planned Parenthood's Guttmacher Institute, abortion will significantly increase among Medicaid recipients if covered by public funding. Care Net's own research indicates that the marketing of "free services" at pregnancy centers is a draw to abortion-vulnerable women. So if abortion is covered in healthcare plans, how can we continue to attract this at-risk population with our free services?


2. This bill provides no adequate provision for the rights of conscience of pro-life healthcare professionals. When these rights are trumped, pro-life individuals will leave or simply not enter the field of medicine. So, where will pregnancy centers find like-minded doctors and nurses to provide free ultrasounds, prenatal care, or STD testing? They simply won't exist.


3. We also anticipate that if abortions increase because they're free and federally-subsidized in healthcare plans, there will be a huge increase in the demand for post-abortion recovery programs, which are offered in pregnancy centers. Our movement will have to greatly expand our services in this area.

The BAD NEWS: Congress and the President have supported a bill that allows for the expansion of abortion and the provision of taxpayer-funded abortion.

The GOOD NEWS: You can make a difference in protecting life by supporting the work of Care Net and your local pregnancy center. Help extend life-affirming, compassionate support to more than 370,000 people every year! Also, get involved in Care Net's Inspire Life campaign to help grow the number of Americans who are pro-life (now 51 percent)!