As you may have heard, the Trump/Pence administration proposed a Title X "gag rule" that would force medical providers who are currently in the Title X family planning program, including Planned Parenthood, not to speak to patients about all of their pregnancy options and ability to access abortion services. In addition to preventing providers from talking about abortion, this rule would also mean that millions of patients across the country who rely on Planned Parenthood for health care would not be able to access any of our services, including birth control, cancer-screenings and STI-testing/treatment, and there would be drastic cuts to our education programs.
 
 We would love for the support of your Gen Action members by submitting a short comment to the U.S. Health and Human Services department through the link, below, to say they oppose the rule. The deadline for comments is July 31.

This is the link through which individuals can submit a comment:

https://www.votervoice.net/PPACCA/campaigns/59700/respond  The deadline, again, is July 31

See below for more guidelines/info. and sample comments.

Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts.

Guidelines/background:
  1) If you want to find out more about Title X and the gag rule, click here: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/health-care-equity/title-x 
  2) If you want to submit your comment in a language other than English, feel free to do that.
  3) If you have a personal story, as a provider or patient, about how Planned Parenthood services helped you or people in the community, try to sum it up in a sentence or two, without using anyone's name (other than your own.) 
       Personal experiences are a very powerful  way to advocate for Planned Parenthood.
  4) There is already a "template comment" in the comment box when you sign on to the link. Feel free to change some of the wording to make it your own, if you want to use that template comment as your submission. 

Sample comments:
   "The Title X gag rule is a direct attack on women's rights and violates medical ethics by prohibiting doctors and nurses from giving patients complete and accurate information about their health care. The HHS must not accept this proposed rule."

  "The proposed Title X gag rule hurts the most vulnerable patients and would result in denying them essential reproductive health care -- including birth control, cancer screenings and well-woman exams. This is an attack on women and accessible, affordable health care. The HSS must reject this rule change.

 "What kind of health care rule-change is strongly opposed by the national medical community, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists? Answer: A terrible one. The proposed Title X gag rule is NOT health care. It's an attack on women's basic rights. Period."

“The Trump-Pence administration is proposing a gag rule to the Title X family planning program that is a grave violation of medical ethics. Preventing doctors and nurses from giving patients complete and accurate information about their health care options is dishonest and outright dangerous. The gag rule must be rejected to ensure the safety and fundamental rights of all women, regardless of income.”