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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUPMC banning birth control counseling?
My mom just told me that my niece, who is a nurse practitioner, is very upset that the gynecological practice she's soon to begin working for has been taken over by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). She has just now received a directive from UPMC informing her that she, and the other employees, are not allowed to counsel the patients about not just abortion, but any birth control (presumably except abstention.)
According to Wikipedia, "The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is a $23 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 92,000 employees, 40 hospitals with more than 8,000 licensed beds, 800 clinical locations including outpatient sites and doctors' offices, a 3.8 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and international ventures."
It seems they currently operate mostly in Central & Western Pennsylvania, but are expanding.
I can't find anything online about such a policy at UPMC, and my neice is very busy, so I can't reach her for confirmation. However, while my mom sometimes gets the details wrong, she's not normally so wrong that this isn't likely to be very worrisome news.
Anyone know anything about this?
LAS14
(13,767 posts)irisblue
(32,916 posts)MyOwnPeace
(16,913 posts)a quick scan of 'headlines' from the 2 papers (Trib Review /Scaff owned RW rag) - (Pittsburgh P-G / fired Rob Rogers-cartoonist doing too many 'tRump' cartoons) and did not find anything.....yet.
Doesn't mean it won't happen (articles about such actions) but then again, I'd be a bit surprised if UPMC would opt to do this now when there's the annual drive to sign-up Medicare signees.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)if true. However, I don't know that Medicare clients would be naturally that concerned about birth control. 🙃
eShirl
(18,477 posts)elleng
(130,699 posts)Ms. Toad
(33,980 posts)csziggy
(34,131 posts)They have an entire center for this purpose - it would make major headlines if they were to shut it down, so I doubt the practice of counseling women will be banned there.
https://www.obgyn.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/Center%20for%20Contraception%20and%20Family%20Planning%20Brochure.pdf
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)Unless my mom is really losing it. I just can't imagine she got it that wrong. I don't seem to have a current # for my niece. I will try to reach her.
UPMC Gynecology, Family Planning, and Women's Health Services at the Department of Family Medicine (Link for those who don't want to download a pdf): https://www.upmc.com/services/family-medicine/treatments/womens-health/gynecology-family-planning-womens-health
Lars39
(26,104 posts)practice. It wasnt being enforced, but thats pretty much how it was worded.
marybourg
(12,584 posts)Lars39
(26,104 posts)FakeNoose
(32,547 posts)... into central PA.
It's a system of medical centers, clinics and hospitals that began at the University of Pittsburgh, and morphed into a HU-U-UGE nonprofit center of its own. That being said, I live in Pittsburgh and I've never heard that UPMC is changing their policy towards the so-called "pro-life" stance. They have always supported women's right to choose, and I don't know of any recent changes.
Since UPMC is expanding into so-called "red" counties in central Pennsylvania, it's possible they have decided that discretion is the better part of valor. I'm guessing maybe they're trying to keep their pro-choice policy quiet for the time being. I'm not a member of the UPMC executive board and I have no private insider knowledge. All I know is that IF they were to make a company-wide policy change in this regard, it would be major news in Pittsburgh, and in the entire state. That's why I don't think so.
If I'm wrong someone please correct me, and I'll be happy to delete this.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)Sorry to be alarmist, but, with all the extreme RW crap happening these days, something this awful would not surprise me.
I guess I'd better check on my mom?
iemanja
(53,010 posts)PA_jen
(1,114 posts)And talk about giving a kick back to yourself..
My sister-in-law has Medicaid and guess who controls the plan. UPMC ..
A law needs to be passed either you are a health network with hospitals and research center of you are insurance company. You shouldn't be allowed to be both because your patients suffer.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)the Republicans admire & encourage.
Deminpenn
(15,265 posts)with health insurance. AHN with Highmark/BCBS and UPMC offers its own UPMC health insurance plans. They both compete with each other and it actually produces pretty good plans from both.
PA_jen
(1,114 posts)the plan my sister-in-law has. We couldn't take her to an AHN hospital this is the sil that has all the health issue and my fil had to go to court to get guardianship. thankfully Magee held her saying she wasn't capable of making her choices before father-in-law got guardianship and is helping to find a skill care facility for her. My experience with UPMC have been nothing but bad. AHN I've only seen good.
Deminpenn
(15,265 posts)to team up. UPMC has its docs and network and AHN/BCBS has its docs and network. They are both expanding north and east into central PA.
The competition between the two behemoths is pretty intense.
In my area, we have a small hospital system that hasn't yet been targeted as an acquisition by either of UPMC or AHN.
PA_jen
(1,114 posts)mcar
(42,278 posts)I don't see how that is possible.
Deminpenn
(15,265 posts)UPMC runs Magee Women's Hospital, the best place for women's health care in the region.