Fw: Take Action today: Your stories can help save funding for women'shealth care

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Urgent Message - Texas Women Please Respond!

Martha National Silicone Implant Foundation | Dallas Headquarters"Supporting Survivors of Medical Implant Devices"4416 Willow LaneDallas, TX 75244-7537

----- Original Message ----- From: Texas Campaign for Women's Health

Action Alert

Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 12:56 PM

Subject: Take Action today: Your stories can help save funding for women'shealth care

Texas Campaign for Women's Health Update

*** Please forward this update widely to any individuals or email lists that would be interested ***Dear Advocates,The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services‹which is charged with recommending funding levels for state health and human services programs‹will hold a public hearing on the Texas Dept. of Health 2004-05 budget on Tuesday, February 18th, beginning at 7:00am.Texas Campaign for Women¹s Health will be there to present and submit testimony supporting maintaining or increasing the current level of funding for women¹s health care services.

Your input in this process is crucial! If you can offer a personal perspective on the need for family planning services in your area‹from your perspective as a health service provider or client‹please contact me TODAY! Legislators need to hear the personal stories of people who benefit or who need these services. Even if you can¹t some to Austin, we could include your written testimony in our presentation.Contact Lesley Ramsey at:Phone: (512) 448-4857Fax: (512) 448-3373Email: Lramsey@...Why does the Texas Campaign for Women¹s Health support funding for family planning services?Family planning clinics are the only source of health care for many uninsured and low-income women. Nationwide, over 80% of women receiving care at family planning clinics have no other source of medical care.It costs less than $150 a year per woman to provide the full scope of care, and saves women and the state thousands by averting the costs of unplanned pregnancies, illness and other conditions. Family planning services have been shown to save the state more than $3.30 for every $1 spent in the first year costs alone in Medicaid prenatal, delivery and newborn care for the first year costs. A typical family planning visit includes:o A physical examination;o contraceptive methods counseling;o risk reduction education; and,o screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes, hypertension, anemia, kidney infection/disease, sexually transmitted diseases and other conditions. The network of family planning clinics around the state is the single largest mechanism for screening women for breast and cervical cancer and diabetes, as well as the others for which screening is available.In 1999 there were approximately 400 family planning clinics in Texas, which served more than 450,000 women. In that year, more than 1.2 million additional women qualified for and needed family planning services that they could not access. Now, only approximately 300 state-funded clinics exist to serve these women.We can¹t afford to let more women fall through the cracks.

Other action you can takeContact members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and tell them you support funding for the family planning program Legislators especially appreciate contact from their constituents.House Appropriations HHS Subcommittee:Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R-Burleson), ChairDistrict 58 includes Bosque and countiesCapitol Office (512) 463-0538(512) 463-5896 Fax District Office(817) 295-5158(817) 295-5319 Fax Rep. Vicki Truitt (R-Keller)District 98 includes part of Tarrant CountyCapitol Office (512) 463-0690(512) 477-5770 Fax District Office (817) 488-4098(817) 488-4099 FaxRep. Dawnna Dukes (D- Austin)District 48 includes part of CountyCapitol and District Office (512) 463-0506(512) 463-5896 FaxRep. (R-Houston)District 129 includes part of CountyCapitol Office (512) 463-0734(512) 463-5896 Fax District Office (281) 333-1350Craig Eiland (D-Galveston)District 23 includes Chambers County and part of Galveston CountyCapitol Office (512) 463-0502(512) 463-5896 FaxDistrict Office (409) 763-3260(409) 763-8154 FaxRep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (R-Lampasas)District 43 includes Burnet and Lampasas counties and part of Bell CountyCapitol Office (512) 463-0684(512) 463-5896 Fax District Office (512) 556-895Rep. Vilma Luna (D-Corpus Christi)Capitol Office (512) 463-0484(512) 463-0904 Fax District Office (361) 854-9816***************************This update is provided by the Texas Campaign for Women's Health. TCWH is a statewide coalition comprising more than 70 co-sponsoring organizations, as well as many individuals, working together to improve the status of women's health care in Texas. Co-sponsors include health care advocates, professional organizations, and community based advocacy, action and support groups.Join the "TCWH ActionAlert" email list at www.topica.com********************Lesley RamseyProject DirectorTexas Campaign for Women's Health905-A W. OltorfAustin, Texas 78704(512) 448-4857