Planned Parenthood: “Irreplaceable” and “Lifesaving”?
In its most recent annual report, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America makes two fundamental claims, both of which are directly relevant to the question involving continued government funding for its services, approximately $555 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. These claims are:
- First, that Planned Parenthood health centers are “an irreplaceable component of our country’s healthcare system”, and;
- Second, that Planned Parenthood provides “lifesaving care.”
These claims would suggest that Planned Parenthood’s services are unique and not easily available from other providers, and that the level and intensity of services have a direct and measurable impact on the likelihood of fatal occurrences (i.e., deaths).
Scope and Scale
Planned Parenthood, by almost any measure, is a large organization with nearly 650 health centers in the U.S. alone and an international presence through Planned Parenthood Global Health Partners in 12 other nations including Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru. It has $1.5 billion in net assets and $1.1 billion in current annual revenue. It is popular enough to receive $258 million dollars in annual private contributions and bequests, nearly half as much as it receives from government grants and service reimbursement. With $165.8 million in management expenses annually, the organization is undoubtedly intensely and strategically managed.
The Service Profile
In 2015, Planned Parenthood health centers saw 2.4 million patients during 4 million clinical visits and provided 9.5 million services. The following table summarizes the distribution of these services based on the organization's report:
| Service Category | Volume of Services | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| STI Testing and Treatment | 4,266,689 | 44.9% |
| Contraception | 2,808,815 | 30% |
| Other Women’s Health Services | 1,317,582 | 13% |
| Cancer Screenings and Prevention | 665,234 | 7% |
| Abortion Services | 328,348 | 3.4% |
| Other Services | 108,309 | 1.1% |
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Services
The largest volume of services is for Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment. According to the annual report, nearly 99% of Planned Parenthood STI services involve testing – not treatment. Of the 4,266,689 services totaled in this category, only 53,396 involved treatments, split nearly half-and-half between genital warts and “other STI prevention and treatments.”
Contraception and Pregnancy Services
The second largest volume of Planned Parenthood’s services is for contraception. Of that group of services, 1,936,360 services, or 68.9%, were for reversible contraception clients. The third largest volume category is for “other women’s health services.” 1,079,836 of those services, or 81.9%, are pregnancy tests, likewise a prerequisite for abortion. There are minuscule numbers of prenatal services and miscarriage care.
Cancer Screenings and Abortion
Cancer screenings and prevention services include breast exams (321,700) and pap tests (293,799) and a few other very-low-volume procedures. Abortion services includes 328,348 abortion procedures, though as a percentage of revenue, abortion is a much larger component of the group’s work, with estimates ranging from 10 percent of total revenue to as much as one third of its clinic revenue from all sources.
Analysis of Clinical Capabilities
Planned Parenthood centers are largely focused on contraceptive services, sexually transmitted infection testing, and abortions. There is little or no demonstrable capability for definitive diagnosis or a range of treatments for any disease or condition at Planned Parenthood centers. A breast exam, for example, is a valuable service, but such exams are insufficient for a confirmatory diagnosis of breast cancer. Additional diagnostic testing or technology (e.g., mammogram, biopsy) is required. Planned Parenthood centers can only refer to other providers for these definitive diagnostic procedures.