Energy and Commerce Democratic leaders sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar today raising serious concerns over the extended delay in releasing grant applications for the Title X family planning program. The letter was signed by Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO).
According to HHS, the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) was expected to post the grant application for Title X funds by Nov. 1, 2017, with an application due date of Jan. 3, 2018 and an award date of April 1, 2018. As of today, OPA still has not posted the grant application, and the OPA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary, Teresa Manning, was reportedly escorted from the HHS building by security on January 12 after only being in the post for nine months.
“The Title X program provides critical funds to organizations which ensure that all women in need have access to affordable contraceptive care," the Democrats wrote to Secretary Azar. “The ongoing delay in posting the funding announcement creates a very serious risk that grantees will face a funding gap that will impede their ability to provide these essential services and may adversely affect the health and well-being of women and families across the nation."
Title X grant recipients will begin to see their funding run out in March. OPA’s extreme delay in posting the grant application places these grant recipients at risk of a funding lapse, and may seriously hurt their ability to provide essential healthcare services. In 2016, the Title X family planning program served 4 million people nationwide and played a key role in the substantial decline in unintended pregnancies. The Title X program also saves taxpayers’ money in the long term with every public dollar spent on family planning services and preventive care saving taxpayers $7.09, for a net savings of $13.6 billion in 2010 alone.
As part of their inquiry to HHS, the Democrats are requesting answers to a series of questions, including:
* What is the reason for the substantial delay in release of the Title X grant application?
* When does OPA expect to make the grant applications publicly available?
* How long will applicants have to complete applications?
* Will OPA process applications on an expedited basis?
* How many existing Title X grantees will be affected if extensions are not provided beyond March 31, 2018?
* What were the circumstances behind Ms. Manning’s departure as director of OPA?
