Essential Access Health Applauds Release of Biden Administration’s Final Title X Rule

Final rule provides urgently needed relief, restores integrity of nation’s family planning program.

Statement by Julie Rabinovitz, President + CEO, Essential Access Health

“Today, the final Title X rule, “Ensuring Access to Equitable, Affordable, Client-Centered, Quality Family Planning Services,” was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for public review. The rule is scheduled to take effect on November 8, 2021, 30-days after it is officially published in the Federal Register.

“HHS has determined that the most appropriate course is to revoke the harmful 2019 rule in its totality. Most importantly, in readopting the 2000 rule, the final rule removes the strict physical separation requirements that were imposed on top of existing obligations for separating abortion services and Title X project related activities. It also allows Title X providers to offer nondirective pregnancy options counseling and referrals to support patient needs.

“We applaud the Biden Administration for taking action to restore the integrity of our federal family planning program and advance health access and equity across the country.

“The final rule provides urgently needed relief for patients who rely on Title X for essential and time-sensitive services and comes not a moment too soon. We must do everything possible to increase the availability of birth control and emergency contraception in the face of abortion bans sweeping the nation and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community health and well-being.

“We deeply appreciate members of our Title X provider network that remained in the program and offered the best care possible while the Trump-era rules remained in effect. We are also ready to welcome back qualified providers that made the difficult decision to exit the program as a result of Trump’s regressive policy changes.

“We stand committed to partnering with the administration and Congress to rebuild our family planning safety-net. Together we can and must create a more equitable, client-centered and just health system that meets the unique health needs of every person in need of care – with dignity and respect.”

Background

Essential Access Health has been a Title X grantee since the program was established over 50 years ago. Today, Essential Access leads California’s statewide Title X provider network – the largest Title X system in the nation.

Prior to the release of the Trump-era Title X regulations in 2019, California’s Title X network served nearly 1,000,000 patients at 366 clinic sites across 38 California counties. After the Trump rules took effect, the number of patients in California served by Title X dropped by 80%. Learn more in our comparison maps.

Essential Access filed a legal challenge to halt implementation of the Trump administration’s harmful and unlawful Title X regulations. Learn more here.