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Lawmaker Announces Initiative that Could Save the State Millions of Dollars

Tuesday, July 13th at 10:00 a.m.

University Health Center Downtown

Leona Street Entrance Lobby

527 N. Leona Street San Antonio, TX 78207

State Rep. Mike Villarreal and Healthy Futures of Texas President Dr. Janet Realini will hold a press conference to announce the results of a recent state study of the Women's Health Program (WHP) and call for increasing WHP enrollment as a key strategy for addressing the state budget crisis and strengthening Texas families.  

The WHP provides family planning and women's health services to low-income Texas women ages 18 to 44. It does not cover abortions. More information on the program is available here.

The state Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has recently conducted a study of the program as mandated by a budget provision written by Rep. Villarreal. The study, which will be released at the press conference, finds that the WHP has prevented unplanned pregnancies and saved the state $40 million per year at a time when the Legislature is preparing to address an $18 billion budget deficit. Currently, less than five percent of eligible Texas women are enrolled in the program. 

In addition to the direct budget savings, research by Healthy Futures of Texas and others has found that preventing unplanned pregnancies reduces child abuse, the high school dropout rate, abortions, child and maternal health problems, and other social, educational and economic costs. Seventy-one percent of pregnancies among unmarried young adults in Texas is unplanned.

Rep. Villarreal will announce plans to file legislation to expand enrollment in the WHP and save millions of additional dollars in state Medicaid costs.