Why Durham County says its health department can’t offer abortions
The Durham County health department will not provide abortions because strings attached to federal money prohibit it, county officials announced Friday.
On Monday, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam called for the health department to add abortions to its offerings in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
But the Durham County Board of Health, which Allam sits on, says the federal government explicitly prohibits the practice for recipients of Title X funding.
“Local health departments traditionally do not provide abortion services for reasons related to Title X funding, as well as capacity and liability for this medically complex procedure,” the board wrote, adding that no health departments in North Carolina perform abortions.
Title X is a federal grant program dedicated to reproductive health and family planning services. It dates back to 1970.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services received $7.8 million in Title X funding this year, which is distributed to health departments around the state. The Durham County Department of Public Health did not respond Friday afternoon to a request for local numbers.
Where to get an abortion in the Triangle
Abortion is legal in North Carolina, though Republican leaders in the General Assembly want a 20-week ban reinstated in light of the Supreme Court ruling, which leaves it up to states to set the rules. Gov. Roy Cooper has promised to veto any attempt at legislation.
In the Triangle, people can get abortions at North Durham Women’s Health and the Planned Parenthood in Chapel Hill, as well as two clinics in Raleigh.
Allam told The News & Observer earlier this week that a public health crisis is looming.
“Since we’re one of the few states in the South that doesn’t have trigger laws that go into effect to ban abortion, we’re going to become a haven state for individuals across the southern region to seek these services,” she said.
In its statement Friday, the Durham County Board of Health decried the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
“This is not and should not be an issue of politics,” the board wrote. “When it comes to personal decisions, people make choices that transcend party, religion, and other factors.”
The board called self-determination over one’s body a “basic tenet of public health.”
“Ending a pregnancy should not be criminalized by governments,” the board wrote. “Unfortunately, we are sure that The Supreme Court’s decision will increase health inequities and other inequities in the United States.”
The health department will continue to offer reproductive health and family planning services including IUDs, birth control pills and condoms.
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