In previous years, FPA succeeded in advocating for budget increases and defeated numerous pieces of anti-choice legislation, but new legislation is threatening access to basic family planning services. By using its grassroots base and educating elected officials, FPA successfully explains how new directions in healthcare could compromise a woman’s access to family planning services.

FPA successfully works to defeat legislation in the State Senate to ban insurance coverage for abortion services. FPA also negotiates an HMO bypass to protect Medicaid patients’ confidentiality.  The “bypass” allows clients to obtain family planning services, including abortion services, from a provider of their choice.

In an effort to protect minors’ confidentiality, FPA develops model language for an Assembly bill which gives parents the right to obtain records of minor children only if they had previously given consent for the service.

In the final budget, the Legislature increases family planning funds in the State Budget by $2.68 million.  Despite FPA’s success in increasing state funding for family planning services, clinics are forced to retrench due to deep federal cuts and longstanding inflation.