By Ken Kusmer, Associated Press Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Christmas for many is the season of giving. At Planned Parenthood of Indiana, it's about giving the gift of health care and contraception.
The network of 35 health centers across Indiana has begun offering holiday gift certificates for basic health care services "or the recipient's choice of birth control method," it announced this week.
Nearly 800,000 Indiana residents don't have health insurance and can't afford basic health services such as Pap tests and breast exams, President and CEO Betty Cockrum said.
"This is about basic health care, and potentially lifesaving health care," Cockrum said.
Planned Parenthood's health centers perform nearly 1,000 Pap tests each week, and about 10 percent reveal findings that require follow-ups to more accurately detect or prevent cervical cancer, she said.
The organization decided to offer the vouchers because so many people are uninsured or are putting off health care because of the economic downturn, Cockrum said. Its annual exams for women, which include Pap tests and breast exams, typically cost $58. The vouchers also can be used for insurance copays and for medication.
Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe applauded the idea.
"It's an interesting and novel approach. This is really a meaningful gift," Monroe said.
A survey for the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation last month showed about a third of respondents reported someone in their family had skipped a recommended medical test of or treatment because of the cost.
"We always have Hoosiers and particularly women who put others' concerns first before their own health," Monroe said.
Julia Vaughn of Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan, which advocates for universal health coverage, said it was a wise marketing move at a time when insurance copays and deductibles are going up.
"The stress on the family budget that just health care presents is growing every day," Vaughn said.
Opponents of abortion and other birth control methods didn't view the promotion so charitably.
Mike Fichter, president and CEO of Indiana Right to Life, said Planned Parenthood was making a "mockery" of the season.
"The tragedy is that almost 6,000 fewer children will be celebrating a first Christmas this year because they were aborted in Planned Parenthood's Indiana clinics," Fichter said.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana operates abortion clinics in Indianapolis, Merrillville and Bloomington.
"They deserve coal in their stocking, not money for lethal gift certificates," said Sister Diane Carollo, director of the Office for Pro-Life Ministry for the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Cockrum responded that her organization performs abortions on about 5,000 of the 92,000 patients it sees annually. The rest get Pap tests, birth control and testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
"Birth control is the best way to avoid unintended pregnancy. Avoiding unintended pregnancy is the best way to reduce abortion," Cockrum said.
Planned Parenthood dispenses more than 500,000 units of birth control each year including pills, condoms, diaphragms, spermacides and morning-after pills, spokeswoman Kate Shepherd said.
The gift certificates can be purchased in increments of $25 online at http://www.ppin.org or for any dollar amount at some Planned Parenthood of Indiana health centers. They can be redeemed at any of the health centers.
Spokeswoman Diane Quest of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America said the Indiana organization is among a handful of its 99 affiliates that currently offer gift certificates or have done so in the past.
