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Health care options key

The Spokesman-Review

As I told Congressman Walt Minnick at a town hall meeting, because of the economy, women are turning to health care centers such as the Dirne Clinic in Coeur d’Alene, the Panhandle Health District, and Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest with clinics in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney and Pullman.

Last year, 3,909 Idaho residents crossed into Washington to PPINW clinics for family planning, Pap tests, pelvic exams, counseling, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, breast and cervical cancer screening, and other services including annual exams. Most were women – often quite young – but some were men, seeking some of those same services and also screening for testicular cancer.

Losing a job with attendant losses of income and insurance is stressful; losing health care or experiencing an unplanned pregnancy adds enormously to the crisis. Please tell members of Congress that expansions of insurance must meet the needs of women and include direct and confidential access to the reproductive health care provider of the patient’s choice.

When the economy improves, some of the crisis will disappear, but we need long-term solutions.

Timothy Hunt

Hayden



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