Governor Murphy Commends Planned Parenthood’s Vital Role During Visit to New Health Center
TRENTON, NJ — In a recent statement, Governor Phil Murphy lauded Planned Parenthood for its critical healthcare services provided to women throughout the state. Highlighting the organization’s significance amid ongoing challenges to abortion access, Governor Murphy expressed his and First Lady Tammy Murphy’s enthusiasm during their visit to the upcoming Planned Parenthood health center in Absecon, Atlantic County. The new facility is set to open its doors soon, marking a significant development in healthcare provision in the area.
In 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed A5802, which makes a Fiscal Year 2020 appropriation of $9.5 million to the New Jersey Department of Health for family planning services. The legislation will replace critical federal funding for family planning services that are impacted by the Trump Administration’s implementation of the Title X gag rule, which limits access to health care and family planning resources.
In February 2018, Governor Murphy signed his first piece of legislation which restored $7.45 million in funding to Planned Parenthood and other women’s health facilities that had been cut during the Christie administration. Governor Murphy also signed legislation (S105/A1656) providing Medicaid coverage for family planning services to low-income individuals. With the signing of this legislation, the New Jersey Department of Human Services created a new family planning benefit program for women and men with incomes that are higher than traditional Medicaid eligibility. The benefit, called Plan First, launched in October 2019, and provides coverage for birth control, the HPV vaccine, family planning-related lab testing, and other targeted family planning-related health care needs.