Bill improves health, while saving money

Abortions, unwanted pregnancies, unhealthy mothers. We can change these into healthy mothers with healthy babies. This week, Idaho's Senate Health and Welfare Committee considers "Healthy Women, Healthy Babies" — legislation that allows low-income families to receive health care services resulting in healthier mothers and babies, fewer unintended and untimely pregnancies, and therefore many fewer abortions.

How will it work? Qualified women will receive family planning medical services from licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, or certified midwives. These services include health exams, breast and cervical cancer screening, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and counseling related to pregnancy and birth. Abortion services are not included.

This legislation will result in healthier, happier families, while saving Idaho taxpayers millions of dollars. After an initial 2-year investment of about $500,000 total, Idaho will start to save more than $1.5 million in taxpayer-funded health care every year! Even better, from the beginning, for every $10 Idaho invests, there is a $90 match from the Federal government. That's almost ten times our investment, and is money that will be spent in Idaho, hiring Idahoans, making local purchases, and contributing to our economy.

To reduce the number of abortions, unwanted pregnancies, and unhealthy mothers in Idaho, ask your representatives in the Legislature to vote "yes" for "Healthy Women, Healthy Babies" (Senate Bill 1140).

Tell them you support making the initial 2-year investment so that we can get almost ten times our money back, and so that in two years we can start to save millions of dollars in health care costs, while helping Idaho's families.

STEVE ELGAR

Sandpoint