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Local family planning clinic will no longer offer abortion referrals

CREDIT CREATIVE COMMONS CC0

The Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic says it will no longer make referrals for abortions in order to continue to receive federal funding known as Title X. This comes after the national Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday that family planning organizations will have to comply with new rules in order to receive federal funds.

Catriona Reynolds is the executive director of Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. She said Title X funds make up about a quarter of the agency’s budget.

“While some of the services that we provide particularly around pregnancy options counseling are going to be changed a little and limited some, that’s going to impact less people then if we didn't take Title X,” she said. “So that’s the decision we came to.”

The clinic receives roughly $90,000 of Title X federal funding each year. 

Title X does not fund abortions, and the family planning clinic does not perform that service. Reynolds says the clinic is still allowed to discuss abortion options with clients but can’t offer a list of abortion providers.

Reynolds argues that these changes undermine Title X’s purpose to provide comprehensive reproductive health services to low-income women.

But while she’s disappointed with the new regulations, she says it’s important to continue to be a part of the Title X network.

“With the way our community and our state is facing budget cuts, our ability to continue providing our services is even more important," she said. "We are anticipating being an even more important part of the safety network for folks as the budget cuts in the state take effect" 

This family planning clinc is the only agency on the Southern Kenai Peninsula that receives money from Title X. 

Multiple organizations, including Planned Parenthood, are continuing to challenge the new rules in federal court. Planned Parenthood said it will not comply with the new regulations.

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