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Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri Praises Federal Ruling Striking Down Unconstitutional Missouri Anti-Birth Control Law

“This ruling ensures that all Missouri women -- no matter who their boss is – have access to basic preventive health care without a co-pay, including birth control.”

MISSOURI

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri released the following statement praising a federal court ruling that has struck down an unconstitutional Missouri law which would have allowed local employers to deny their employees access to affordable birth control as provided by the Affordable Care Act.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig cites a provision in the U.S. Constitution declaring that federal laws take precedence over contradictory state laws. Peter Brownlie, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri:

"This is a victory for Missouri women and their families. This ruling ensures that all Missouri women -- no matter who their boss is -- have access to basic preventive health care without a co-pay, including birth control. This is a decision for women, not their bosses to make. Bosses don't have to take birth control, and they don't have to pay for it -- and thanks to the Federal court ruling, they can't decide whether the women who work for them are able to have birth control covered by their insurance like any other prescription."

Approximately 940,000 Missouri women stand to benefit from the Affordable Care Act's preventive health care benefit, including access to no-copay birth control, which went into effect in August of last year.

Each year, Planned Parenthood health centers in Missouri see nearly 80,000 individuals for medical and educational services, including birth control. Nationwide, Planned Parenthood provides birth control for 2.5 million patients.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is many things to many people. We are a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world. Planned Parenthood delivers vital health care services, sex education, and sexual health information to millions of women, men, and young people.