We are hearing that Evelyn Kappeler, current Acting Deputy Director for Population Affairs will be replacing Eric Keroack, who resigned yesterday because of a Medicaid Action by the State of Massachusetts. We are working on finding out more about her. Stay tuned here for updates - or lend us a research hand and post what you can find out!
Keroack's job was advise HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt on vital issues related to reproductive health and adolescent pregnancy in the U.S. He also oversaw Title X — America's family planning program, which provides preventive health services to millions of low-income women each year.
And, in the finest tradition of Bush Appointees, here is why we are so ECSTATIC that he is gone:
Much of the opposition to Keroack’s appointment stems from his previous role as medical director for A Woman’s Concern (AWC), a nonprofit group that runs six so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" in Massachusetts.. Under Keroack’s supervision, AWC health centers would not distribute, encourage the use of, or offer referrals for contraceptive drugs and devices. AWC states in its material that "the crass commercialization and distribution of birth control is demeaning to women, degrading of human sexuality and adverse to human health and happiness."
The group not only opposes contraception and abortion, it goes one step further — promoting misleading and deceptive reproductive health information. AWC’s materials incorrectly characterize traditional forms of birth control as abortifacients, wrongly claim that the distribution of contraception increases the number of pregnancies, and distort research to make false claims about condoms and HIV. The group also advances the myth that abortion increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer, despite scientific studies that have consistently shown otherwise.
And despite their masquerade as family planning clinics, the only "services" AWC "crisis pregnancy centers" provide are pregnancy tests and ultrasounds administered for the sole purpose of emotionally intimidating women into carrying unintended pregnancies to term. This type of biased counseling flies in the face of the Title X requirement that women facing an unintended pregnancy be provided nondirective options counseling upon request — meaning neutral, factual information on prenatal care and delivery; infant care, foster care or adoption; and pregnancy termination.
UPDATE: It is definitely an interim appointment and we are interested to learn more about Kappeler. Here is what our President, Cecile Richards, had to say:
"On behalf of the more than 17 million women who need access to publicly funded family planning services, Planned Parenthood calls on the Bush administration to do the right thing and appoint a truly qualified women’s health advocate and expert to this critical post. The appointee must understand the public health benefits of access to birth control and family planning care. The Bush administration has the opportunity to stand up for prevention and health — instead of pushing ideology and politics.
"We are eager to learn more about Ms. Kappeler’s credentials and track record on women’s health."