A Meerkat's Bolthole

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The head of the federal agency responsible for providing women with access to contraceptives and pregnancy counseling resigned unexpectedly Thursday after Medicaid officials took action against him in Massachusetts.

The Health and Human Services Department provided no details about the nature of the Massachusetts action that led to Dr. Eric Keroack's resignation.

Just five months ago, Keroack was chosen by President Bush to oversee HHS' Office of Population Affairs and its $283 million annual budget. The pick angered Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion rights groups that viewed him as opposed to birth control and comprehensive sex education. Keroack had worked for an organization that opposes contraception.

''Yesterday, Dr. Eric Keroack alerted us to an action taken against him by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Office of Medicaid. As a result of this action I accepted his resignation,'' Dr. John Agwunobi, assistant secretary for health, said in a terse statement Thursday evening.

Massachusetts Medicaid officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

A PSA if you live in one of the affected states...



"In Ohio, women may lose direct access to their ob/gyns, coverage for infertility treatment, and coverage for cervical cancer screenings.

In New Hampshire, women may lose coverage for contraceptives, direct access to their ob/gyns, and coverage for maternity care.

In Tennessee, women may lose coverage for osteoporosis screenings and direct access to their ob/gyns.

Most sexually active women aged 15-44 have used birth control.But who's paying for it? If Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY) has his
way, insurance companies in almost every state won't have to. Next week, the Senate will consider a bill introduced by Sen.
Enzi that would allow insurance companies to ignore state laws that protect patients, including laws that prohibit insurance
companies from covering some prescription drugs, but not birth control.

Urge your senator to vote against S. 1955.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/enzi_bill

For years many insurance plans covered prescription drugs, but refused to cover birth control pills and other prescription
contraceptives for women. Planned Parenthood spent nearly a decade convincing lawmakers in 23 states to remedy this inequity.
Sen. Enzi's bill threatens to reverse this progress by overriding state laws that protect patients, including laws that
require coverage for prescription contraceptives, cervical cancer screenings, maternity care, mental health treatment, and
dozen of other benefits guaranteed under state law.

Speak out now. If you live in an affected state, urge your senator to vote No on S. 1955.


Thank you,

Cecile Richards
President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America"