PRNewswire - February 27, 2003

The three-bill package, known as the Illinois Responsible Choices Act of 2003 (IRCA), will save Illinois taxpayers millions of dollars according to a coalition of legislators, physicians and concerned organizations including the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council.

Dr. Lisa Henry-Reid, Chair, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, The John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Pediatrics, voiced her strong support for the legislation saying: "I am supporting the Illinois Responsible Choices Act because it makes sense to me not only in my role as a doctor, but as a woman, a mother, a taxpayer, and an educator. The primary goal of these bills is prevention through early diagnosis, education, and prompt treatment. We must ensure that all citizens of Illinois have adequate healthcare services, not only those that can afford it."

Senate Bill 99, sponsored by state Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), states that if a public school teaches sex education, family life education, and comprehensive health education courses, all materials and instruction must be medically and factually accurate -- currently not part of Illinois law.

Senator Ronen stated, "Comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education gives young people the information they need to make responsible choices about their health. It teaches students about the advantages of abstinence, while also giving them the realistic information they need about the prevention of an unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections."

Ronen noted that half of all 9th-12th grade students have had sexual intercourse, and approximately one in four sexually active teens contracts a sexually transmitted infection each year.

In SB 99, medically accurate is defined as being verified or supported by research conducted in compliance with scientific methods, published in peer- review journals and recognized as accurate and objective by professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the relevant field.

Senate Bill 458, the second bill in the package, addresses state funding for the Illinois Family Planning Program and is sponsored by state Senator and Chair of the Appropriations Committee Donne E. Trotter, (D-Chicago).

"For many women, family planning clinics provide their only health care. These services include gynecological exams, contraceptive services, preventative health care such as cancer screenings and testing for sexually transmitted infections," stated Trotter.

"Research shows that millions of poor people in this country lack the means to seek medical and family planning services and advice. In 2001, Illinois' family planning providers served nearly 150,000 clients. As a result, 31,189 unintended pregnancies were prevented because subsidized contraceptive services were provided by these clinics. Despite these numbers, the need is still largely unmet," Trotter stated.

The third bill in the package, House Bill 211 sponsored by state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), requires that insurance plans already covering prescription drugs and devices would be prohibited from singling out prescription contraceptive drugs and devices for exclusion from that coverage.

"Pressuring women to use their own money to buy prescription contraception not only discriminates against women, it reflects a deeply flawed and costly health policy. It is neither fair nor equitable," said Feigenholtz. "Not covering contraception is more expensive than covering it. It's a medical necessity for women during 30 years of their life span," stated Feigenholtz.

Feigenholtz went on to say that a recent survey by Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates showed that an overwhelming majority (75 percent) of Illinois voters favor requiring health insurance policies to cover contraception.

"These three bills create a tripod of stability which we can build upon. Together, these bills will help eliminate the previous patchwork quilt of inadequate health care services and save millions of dollars for the taxpayers of Illinois," stated Pam Sutherland of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council.

Support for elements of the Illinois Responsible Choices Act of 2003 includes an impressive list of educational, health and labor organizations.

Among the supporters are: Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, Illinois State Medical Society, both the Cook County and Chicago Departments of Public Health, Illinois Public Health Association, the Illinois Caucus on Adolescent Health, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Campaign for Better Health Care Illinois, Illinois Parent Teacher Association, Illinois Education Association, National Association of Social Workers Illinois, National Council of Jewish Women, Illinois NOW, AFL-CIO, SEIU, and AFSCME Council 31.

SOURCE Planned Parenthood

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