Heather and Senator Pugh make the case for family planning

In an op-ed published today in The Baltimore Sun, Heather joins Senator Catherine Pugh of Baltimore to advocate for legislation that would save Maryland tens of millions of dollars a year while helping thousands of women and their families lead healthier and happier lives.

The Family Planning Works Act would make a simple, common-sense change to Maryland’s public health insurance program. Our state already provides extensive health coverage to low- and moderate-income women when they get pregnant, but we’re only offering family planning services to those who have already started families – whether they planned to or not.

Giving women the tools they need to start families only when they’re ready would not only help prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions – it would also save the state tens of millions of dollars per year. Modest start-up funding of $2.3 million would bring a return as much 75 times the initial investment.

No business or investor would pass up this kind of opportunity, and neither should we. Family planning works, and so would this legislation.

Read the op-ed here.