Planned Parenthood calls on Shapiro to end state funding of crisis pregnancy care centers

Apr. 11—HARRISBURG — Reproductive rights advocates challenged the Shapiro administration for including approximately $7.2 million in the governor's proposed budget for crisis pregnancy care centers they say delay time-sensitive abortion access and provide no medical care.

The funding recipient, Real Alternatives, defends itself as a source of hope and tangible resources for women faced with an unintended pregnancy, denies misleading anyone seeking help through its crisis pregnancy care centers and holds that it's upfront about not offering medical services.

Calls to end a funding stream that spans three decades come from Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood Advocates and others as abortion access is increasingly threatened nationwide, particularly since the fall of Roe v. Wade last May.

A ruling issued Friday by a federal judge in Texas risks federal approval of one of two drugs used during the past 23 years in medication abortion. About half of all abortions in the U.S. are done with medication. Abortion including with medication remains legal in Pennsylvania.

The Texas ruling and a conflicting ruling out of Washington state moved Gov. Josh Shapiro to unveil a new website detailing reproductive health care resources in Pennsylvania and announce the commonwealth is considering joining the legal fight to defend access to the medication.

While describing Shapiro as an ally, Signe Espinoza, executive director, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, decried the continued funding as "unacceptable" and accused pregnancy care centers of engaging in deceptive practices when recruiting clients they ultimately urge not to get an abortion.

"No matter where you stand on this issue this is unacceptable. These are people's lives, and people are going into what they believe are medical centers to receive health care. Whether they choose to have an abortion, they deserve to receive that information, or whether they choose to continue a pregnancy they deserve non-judgmental pregnancy care," Espinoza said, adding that none of the state's pregnancy care centers offer medical care.

The funding is separated into two parts in the Department of Human Services budget section: $6,263,000 in state funds and an additional $1 million transfer from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), cash assistance for the nation's poorest families and children.

In 2002, according to Real Alternatives, Pennsylvania became the first state in the U.S. to redirect TANF funding to pregnancy care centers.

Tara Murtha, director of strategic communications, Women's Law Project, said the redirection of funds harms thousands of kids in Pennsylvania who qualify for support but are denied funding.

"It is the result of policy initiatives that must be reversed," Murtha said.

The funding proposal represents a flat request. It funds operation of the Pennsylvania Pregnancy & Parent Support Services Program conducted by Real Alternatives. The organization uses a network of 29 service providers through 81 sites throughout the commonwealth. Their contract with the state expires June 30.

Administration costs top $726,000 including staff salaries and benefits, a state contract shows. Operational costs top $6.1 million including $4.6 million for counseling service reimbursement.

There are other figures President and CEO Kevin Bagatta points out. He says the program, formed in 1996, served 345,367 women across 1,831,694 visits through February. None ever filed a formal concern or complaint with the program, he said.

They and their child receive free care for a combined 21 months, from conception through 1 year of age. He said he hopes to extend that limit to 2 years of age.

Real Alternatives offers pregnancy self-test kits, counseling, parenting and abstinence education and related services to women seeking alternatives to abortion. After-birth care includes food, temporary shelter and adoption information. Those women who choose to keep their baby and are engaged with Real Alternatives learn to become self-sufficient and learn to become better at parenting, Bagatta said.

Real Alternatives doesn't offer direct medical care, only referrals. Bagatta said the organization doesn't pretend to offer such care. It also doesn't offer referrals to abortion providers for clients who maintain they'd like to medically end a pregnancy, something Bagatta also doesn't dispute.

"We're not political, we don't advocate. We're not the political end of the pro-life movement," Bagatta said. "This program has never done medical services. We refer out to medical services. That's what (the Department of Human Services) and the state legislature wanted."

The Women's Law Project found there are 156 pregnancy care centers operating across Pennsylvania, including Real Alternatives.

Comparatively, there are 17 abortion providers.

Planned Parenthood doesn't receive direct funding from the state budget, however, it is eligible for grant funding through state legislators.

For example, state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, D-Montgomery/Delaware, presented a grant in February to Planned Parenthood Norristown Health Center totaling $250,000. The funds are to be used for sexual and reproductive health care services but not for abortion expenses.

Planned Parenthood also is reimbursed fees through the commonwealth's Family Planning Services for services like emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.