In the past several months we've asked you to help us protect access to abortion and women's reproductive health care by contacting the Governor and members of the Board of Health. Now, we need your help again. Although the Governor has approved temporary emergency regulations governing the licensure of clinics, there's still time for us to change the permanent rules.

The Board of Health is accepting public comments about the permanent regulations for licensing abortion facilities from now until February 15.

The Department of Health's proposed permanent regulations are identical to the temporary regulations. Click here (http://townhall.virginia.gov/L/entercomment.cfm?stageid=6006) to tell the Board of Health to amend the proposed permanent regulations to ensure the continued availability of safe, legal first-trimester abortions and preventive reproductive healthcare.
Talking Points:
• The proposed regulations are burdensome and unnecessary. They have no proven medical benefit and will only serve to reduce or eliminate patient access to healthcare.
• Women in Virginia need more access to affordable, high quality healthcare, not less. The regulations will increase the financial burden on patients and decrease patients' healthcare options thereby marginalizing young, low-income, and uninsured women.
• Instead of improving safety, these regulations will limit access to a wide range of preventive services provided by women's health clinics, including life-saving cancer screenings, family planning, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.
• The regulations should be based solely on medicine and science and should not impede women's access to essential healthcare.
Submit your comments to the Board of Health today!