Stop Ambulatory Surgical Center Regulations from Closing Freestanding Abortion Clinics

We just heard that Rep. Matt Baker's bill, House Bill 574 -- which requires freestanding abortion providers to comply with ambulatory surgical facilities regulations -- will be considered at a meeting of the Pennsylvania House Health Committee this coming Monday, April 11.
House Bill 574 would regulate Pennsylvania’s freestanding abortion providers as ambulatory surgical facilities, subject to both the ambulatory surgical facility regulations (“ASF regulations”) and the ambulatory gynecological surgery in hospitals and clinics regulations (“abortion regulations”).

Instead of preventing another Gosnell “house of horrors,” this bill will hurt women.

• It will not improve patient safety.
• It will force safe providers to close.
• It will increase the cost of an abortion by as much as $1,000.
• It will force women to seek care in other states or from marginal or illegal practitioners.
• It will create two overlapping sets of regulations that are in conflict with each other and in violation of the Abortion Control Act.
• It will have the harshest impact on the poor and rural women of Pennsylvania.

Tell the Pennsylvania House Health Committee to vote NO on House Bill 574 and STOP these proposed Ambulatory Surgical Center Regulations from closing freestanding abortion clinics.

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

What’s Next for Pennsylvania: A Public Forum on the Health and Well-Being of Women and Families

Hosted by Raising Women’s Voices of Southeastern PA, a project of WOMEN’S WAY, and WHYY

Please join Raising Women’s Voices of Southeastern Pennsylvania and WHYY for a critical dialogue with your elected officials on women’s health care needs as the health care reform law is implemented in Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Networking: 5:30 - 6:00 PM

Program: 6:00 - 8:00 PM

WHYY’s Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons

150 N. 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA

* Light refreshments will be served*

To RSVP: http://whatsnextforpennsylvania.eventbrite.com/

All state legislators, including newly elected legislators, from Southeastern Pennsylvania as well as the Governor-Elect have been invited to speak and answer questions from the audience. You will have the chance to hear directly from those making important decisions about what to expect in the coming years as this important law is implemented.

Raising Women’s Voices of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a coalition led by WOMEN’S WAY which was formed to ensure that women’s concerns were addressed during the health care reform process. The coalition includes both Bucks County NOW and Philadelphia NOW. Our coalition advocates for health care reform implementation policies that support the full range of comprehensive reproductive health care services for women. While women gained many wonderful benefits under the new health care reform law, they also lost and have the potential to loose even more benefits, especially reproductive health care rights.

Come out and let legislators know what is important to YOU as they move forward in implementing health care reform!

For questions or additional information about the event, please contact Kate Scully at kscully@pathways.com.

Raising Women’s Voices of Southeastern Pennsylvania c/o WOMEN’S WAY, 123 South Broad Street, Suite 1399 * Philadelphia, PA 19109 * 215-985-3322 * f: 215-985-3369 * rfoley@womensway.org

Raising Women's Voices Coalition Members include: African Family Health Organization * Black Women’s Health Alliance * Bucks County National Organization for Women * ACLU of Pennsylvania- Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project * Cherry Hill Women’s Center * Coalition of Labor Union Women * Family Planning Council * Health Care for America Now * HepTREC * League of Women Voters of Philadelphia * Lutheran Settlement House * Maternal and Child Health Consortium in Chester County * Maternity Care Coalition * Medical Students for Choice * Nancy’s House * Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Chapter. * PathWays PA * Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO * Philadelphia National Organization for Women * Philadelphia Nurse Family Partnership * Philadelphia Women’s Center * Planned Parenthood Bucks County * Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania * Women’s Law Project * Women’s Medical Fund * WOMEN’S WAY