Planned Parenthood to Offer Cheaper Exams

MOVE IN RESPONSE TO BLUNT'S CUTS

Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri said it is offering low-income and uninsured women breast exams at a reduced cost, in response to Governor Matt Blunt's cuts to their program.

The program will cover women 30 and over with an income level 151% of the poverty level or greater. Uninsured and underinsured women are also encouraged to apply.

"For 19 years, Planned Parenthood was an exemplary participant in the Show Me Healthy Women Program—that was until the Governor without cause cut Planned Parenthood as a provider in this program nearly a year ago," said Kellie Rohrbaugh in a release Monday.

“Planned Parenthood has created this program to meet the need of this underserved population—typically working women without insurance," she added.

Rohrbaugh said the Blunt administration's invitation to reapply to the program was disingenuous, because Rohrbaugh said they are only accepting new providers at this time.

"The invitation and response were disingenuous, and don’t match with the Governor’s continued statement that services and funding are expanding for cancer screening for women,” said Rohrbaugh. “Planned Parenthood can’t stand by and let women go without services because the Governor is willing to use women’s health as a political tool.”