Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Post-Election Rush On Long-Lasting Contraception Strains Already Tight Budgets
NPR: Surge In Demand For Long-Acting Birth Control Strains Clinic Budgets
In the two weeks since the election, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has seen a huge increase in volunteers and donations – over 200,000 donations in a single week. But this surge in support hasn't reached many other reproductive health organizations. And many of these centers are already struggling to meet a spike in demand for long-acting contraception after the election of Donald Trump. (Ross, 11/23)
McClatchy: Trump's Impending Presidency Sparks Surge In Calls To Planned Parenthood
The phone has been ringing off the hook at Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, with women rushing to make appointments to get long-acting birth control. In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, the number of appointments at the organization's 12 clinics has jumped by 81 percent, according to spokeswoman Tiffany Harms. The most popular requests: intrauterine devices, or IUDs, small plastic devices that are inserted into the uterus and left in place, and hormonal implants. Planned Parenthood officials say it's a similar situation across the country, with many women braced for the worst. They fear that Trump will try to follow through on his promises to outlaw abortion and scrap the Affordable Care Act, which helps many poor women by providing birth control with no co-pays. (Hotakainen, 11/26)
The Associated Press: New GOP Majority Could Bring Abortion Restrictions To Iowa
For years, Iowa's divided Legislature shielded the state from a wave of Republican-backed laws that restricted abortion access around the country. But a new GOP majority will take control in January, meaning nearly a dozen abortion-related bills could soon be on the table, and Democrats will be unable to block them by vote for the first time in a decade. (Rodriguez, 11/23)
The Associated Press: CDC: US Abortion Rate Falls To Lowest Level In Decades
The number and rate of abortions tallied by federal authorities have fallen to their lowest level in decades, according to new data released Wednesday. The latest report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, incorporating data from 47 states, said the abortion rate for 2013 was 12.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years. That's half the rate recorded in 1980. The last time the CDC recorded a lower rate was 1971, two years before a Supreme Court ruling extending abortion rights nationwide. (Crary, 11/23)
The Associated Press: Man Who Killed Abortion Doctor Gets More Lenient Sentence
The man who seven years ago ambushed and fatally shot one of the few U.S. doctors performing late-term abortions was given a more lenient sentence Wednesday of at least 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. At a surprise resentencing hearing, prosecutors withdrew their request that Scott Roeder serve at least 50 years before parole eligibility. Roeder also was sentenced to an additional two years for aggravated assault for threatening two church ushers as he fled. (Hegeman, 11/24)
