Inslee, Ferguson and Secretary of Health Wiesman notify feds that state will preserve access to reproductive care despite Title X gag rule

July 30, 2019
Tara Lee | tara.lee@gov.wa.gov
360.902.4136

Brionna Aho, Office of the Attorney General | BrionnaF@ATG.WA.GOV
360.753.2727

Amy Reynolds, Department of Health | amy.reynolds@doh.wa.gov
360.688.3189

Today, Washington state notified the Trump administration that it intends to continue to provide the full range of family planning and reproductive health care services under Title X for the duration of the state’s legal challenge against the rule.

As of July 15, the state has stopped using federal funds to reimburse subgrantees for family planning services. The state Department of Health will use state funds to support its family planning network as doctors and providers continue providing comprehensive family planning and health care services to patients.

Gov. Jay Inslee, together with Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Secretary of Health John Wiesman, issued a statement about the state’s response to the federal Title X gag rule, which took effect July 15.

“This is a reckless and dangerous rule that runs counter to the intent of the program, counter to our state’s Reproductive Parity Act, and counter to the obligation for every doctor to care for their patients based on sound medical practice — not ideology,” Inslee said. “We will not allow any woman in Washington to be denied full and accurate information about her medical care, regardless of the Trump administration’s attempt to silence doctors.”

“President Trump’s ‘gag rule’ is outrageous and unlawful. I appreciate Gov. Inslee’s leadership to ensure Washington women are not harmed by this rule. I look forward to continuing to fight to protect Washington women’s access to unbiased health care,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

“We must ensure patient access to quality reproductive healthcare is preserved and we appreciate the support of Governor Inslee and Attorney General Ferguson to challenge these harmful rules,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman.

Background:

DOH letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Details on DOH lawsuit challenging the gag rule

Information on Washington’s Title X program