The California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom (CCRF) is a coalition of
more than 40 organizations dedicated to ensuring that every woman has the
community support and access to make informed personal decisions about her
physical and sexual health and well-being, including comprehensive health
care, healthy pregnancies and safely preventing and ending pregnancies. A
pharmacist must dispense prescriptions issued by health care providers
otherwise the patients' health is unnecessarily put at risk. Planned Parenthood has received reports from all across the nation
of pharmacists refusing to fill women's contraceptive prescriptions .

contraception reproductive

Lawmakers who spoke at the rally included Senators Debra Bowen, Joe Dunn,
Deborah Ortiz, Jackie Speier and Assembly members, Rebecca Cohn, Paul Koretz,
Mark Leno, and Pedro Nava. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee
of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association , headquartered in Chicago. The governor has established
Illinois as a notable example of a state that values its citizens' health.

Sites of institutional organizations providing information or advocacy associated with family planning issues.

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wellbeing sexually

Hundreds of Activists Rally for Reproductive Freedom

EAGAN , Minn.

CCStpa, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, is a full-service provider of
third -party administrative (TPA) services for medical, dental, life and vision
care plans. The rally drew attention to the issue of pharmacist refusals and
sparked a public debate about the rights of women to receive basic health care
in Illinois and around the country."
In Illinois, women who have been refused health care services at a
pharmacy based on a pharmacist's personal objections can file a complaint with
the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

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The event fell at the midpoint of CCRF's 5th Annual Capitol Day, where
advocates and activists gathered to protect women's health and learn about
emerging issues such as access to confidential health care , protecting
comprehensive sex education and information on reproductive freedom in the
gene age . PP/CA registered a complaint about this
specific incident with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation.

advocates parenthood

The Center itself will be opened and run by a partnership between the Red
Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, North Country Health Services, MeritCare
Clinic, and Midwest Children's Resource Center of St.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. "And we look forward
to continuing to work with the Legislature in preventing new measures that
attempt to restrict access to reproductive health care.

transmitted stopes

It will operate
out of North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji, near the emergency room
facilities. Visit
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota's web site:
http://www.

equitable contraception

"By focusing on the victim's own physical and mental recovery, rather than
the legal implications of the violence, this model empowers the victim and
helps break the cycle of violence that is all too common," said Hanko. We
hope his actions will be emulated around the nation. "A pharmacist's personal
views cannot intrude on the relationship between a woman and her doctor. To educate women about the issue and urge them to take action,
PP/CA also organized a protest of nearly a hundred advocates in front of the
pharmacy. Women should
never be denied basic health care services by pharmacists who choose to impose
their own beliefs on others.

wellbeing ippf

"When medical professionals write prescriptions for their patients, they
are acting in their patients' best interests," stated Steve Trombley,
President and CEO of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area.

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Paul
suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota 's first health plan and
continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more
economical and timely availability of health services for the people of
Minnesota.com . "Women need to know that pharmacists do not have the right
to refuse to dispense prescription medication and we commend Governor
Blagojevich for his leadership on this issue. "Pharmacists are refusing to fill
prescriptions in Wisconsin, Texas, New Hampshire and many other states. Patients can
file online by using their complaint form at: http://www.

sexually contraception

If a
woman and her doctor have already discussed the need for contraception, she
should be able to walk in to any pharmacy in America and expect to have her
prescription filled without unnecessary delays or discrimination.

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"
Following the rally, participants made visits to their local lawmakers to
educate and update legislators on issues important to the coalition such as
protecting access to emergency contraception. They hope it will
become a national model for other rural areas. Planned Parenthood Leads Fight for Women's Access to Contraceptives; Praises
Governor's Historic Action

CHICAGO , After bringing the issue of pharmacists'
refusal to fill prescriptions for contraceptives to the forefront of national
debate, Planned Parenthood today stood with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
as he proposed an Emergency Rule to require pharmacies to fill prescriptions
without delay.
"Today Governor Blagojevich sent a clear message that the basic health
care needs of Illinois women are a priority," said Planned Parenthood
Federation of America Interim President, Karen Pearl , who was in Chicago for
the announcement.ildpr.

stopes assuring

"I'm proud to be part of a statewide coalition that has advocated for
policies to meet the unique needs of women for more than 30 years," said Rocio
Cordoba, president of the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom.
We're grateful for the support of the state's lawmakers in our efforts to
protect and expand reproductive freedom in California," said Kathy Kneer,
president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.

The
governor announced his proposal to help women gain access to contraceptives
under the new emergency rule, which requires pharmacies to ensure that women's
contraceptive prescriptions are filled in a timely manner.

priority wellbeing

"
June 7 also marks the 40th anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut, the
U. Supreme Court case which struck down state laws that had made the use of
birth control by married couples illegal.
Called the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota, it will provide
medical care, counseling and social services to any Minnesota victims of child
abuse , domestic violence and sexual assault -- paying special attention to the
Native American communities of Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth. Paul."
Planned Parenthood praised Governor Blagojevich for addressing the issue
of pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for contraceptives.

std contraception

, Protecting and expanding access
to reproductive health care is the focal point of a rally today organized by
the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom. "It's
gratifying to see so many people here who understand the importance of
protecting all forms of reproductive freedom and who wish to celebrate our
victories and plan for our future., A joint $39,000 contribution from
Comprehensive Care Services, Inc.S.
The Center is believed to be one of the first in the country to bring
together professionals from a variety of disciplines to address the immediate
medical needs of victims, in addition to public safety needs, said James
Hanko, President and CEO of North Country Health Services .

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"It is estimated that domestic violence victims account for more than 25
percent of all violent crime victims in Minnesota, and Native Americans are
victimized at a much higher rate.bluecrossmn .

In Victory for Women Illinois Governor Issues Emergency Rule Ensuring Contraceptive Access

priority parenthood

Bruce Preece, chief of police in Bemidji;
Judy Roy, tribal secretary of the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians; and Dr. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest
health plan based in Minnesota , covering 2.

maternal confidentiality

More than 400 activists
from across the state gathered at the noontime rally on the North Steps of the
Capitol. (CCStpa) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Minnesota (Blue Cross) will help open an innovative new resource in Bemidji
for victims of violent crimes and domestic abuse .
The Center's Board of Directors includes Randy Beck, executive partner of
MeritCare - Bemidji; James Hanko, president and CEO of NCHS; Floyd Jourdain,
chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians; Dr."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St.
Pharmacist refusals are not limited to Illinois or any particular
location. "This is
not an isolated problem," noted Pearl.

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Founded in 1982, CCStpa has more than 100 employees and provides
benefit administration solutions to companies interested in self-funding as a
way to balance benefit needs with financial concerns.

"
On February 23, 2005, a pharmacist at a Chicago Osco refused to fill a
medical prescription for contraceptives for two of Planned Parenthood/Chicago
Area's (PP/CA) female patients.

parenthood sexually

Yet there are few resources for victims in
rural areas," said Lois Stevens , president of CCStpa. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota estimated there
were 1,089 cases of child abuse and 885 cases of rape reported in northern
Minnesota in 2002, the most recent year for which numbers were available. Carolyn Levitt,
pediatrician and executive director of the Midwest Children's Resource Center;
Earl Maus, Cass County attorney; Lori Petermeier, social worker with Itasca
County Health + Human Services; J.
Stevens added, "Supporting rural Minnesotans , especially the Native
American populations, is a strong business priority for CCStpa, so it's
exciting for us to contribute to a resource that will help victims of violence
in these communities overcome their trauma and be healthier. CCStpa has a local
network of more than 35,000 providers in Minnesota and its bordering states.

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6 million members in Minnesota and
nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated
companies.