[Pflienews] PharmFacts E-News Update: Oops! They did it again!

[PFLI PharmAid Center]

*PharmFacts E-News Update -- 29 Mar 2008 AD #2

*http://www.miamiherald.com/519/story/473160.html


  Planned Parenthood clinics' closings affect thousands


    Four Planned Parenthood clinics in Broward and a fifth in Boca Raton
    have closed and it isn't clear when, or if, they'll reopen. Clients
    can still pick up test results and get referrals.


          Posted on Fri, Mar. 28, 2008


      BY ROBERT SAMUELS


      rsamuels at MiamiHerald.com <mailto:rsamuels at MiamiHerald.com>


<http://www.miamiherald.com/519/story/473160.html#x>
DAVID BLASCO/MIAMI HERALD STAFF
The sign on the door of Fort Lauderdale Health Center, the Planned 
Parenthood clinic in Oakland Park, explains that its service are limited.

Planned Parenthood clinics in Broward County are turning away thousands 
seeking their services as the national organization investigates 
allegations of financial mismanagement.

Over the past three years, the chapter's two top officers have left, at 
least four trustees have resigned and allegations have been raised 
suggesting its annual report was falsified.

As a result, all four clinics in Broward are shut down, and it's not 
clear when -- and if -- they will reopen.

Meanwhile, several former board members say that they brought their 
concerns about improprieties to the national organization almost two 
years ago.

The board's current chairman, Alex Arreaza, says he can't recall whether 
the local agency's 2006 annual report was duplicated from the previous 
year, as one employee has charged. But he acknowledged the board is 
investigating whether the numbers in 2006 were fabricated and any money 
is missing. For now, the clinics remain in limbo.

In February, a national Planned Parenthood representative delivered a 
critical review of the local agency -- Planned Parenthood of South Palm 
Beach and Broward Counties, which operates four clinics in Broward and 
one in Palm Beach County.

The national organization has since closed clinics in Fort Lauderdale, 
Tamarac, Deerfield Beach, Pembroke Pines and Boca Raton.

The local nonprofit had a $3 million budget in 2005. More than $500,000 
came from public funds. It's unclear how much is reportedly missing or 
unaccounted for.

Each facility offered low-cost breast exams, mental health counseling, 
HIV testing, contraception and abortions. Some 16,000 clients utilize 
the five facilities, according to the state organization.

Suspending services at clinics is ''very rare,'' said Karen Ruffatto, 
vice president of operations for the Planned Parenthood Federation of 
America. But the steps were necessary to address ''competency in 
management and fiscal discipline'' at the clinic. She declined to give 
specifics.

Former board members, however, say they voiced serious concerns to the 
national organization almost two years ago.

''I've been involved in family planning organizations for 40 years,'' 
said Jane Braus, who resigned from the chapter's board in 2006. ``And 
now I want nothing do with them. I've never seen something like this 
before.''

Braus resigned amid concerns about the chapter's management. Popular 
employees were being fired

Former President Mary Capobianco, who resigned in December, went against 
the board's recommendations to build a facility in Boynton Beach, she said.

Braus said the concerns were enough to warrant an internal 
investigation, which was reported to national representatives about 18 
months ago. The board members have vowed to keep the findings 
confidential -- but former board member Barbara Herring said the results 
warranted swifter action. The board members declined to give details 
about what they found in the internal probe.

''This all could have been avoided two years ago,'' Herring said. ``And 
now, the real tragedy is that thousands of women don't have a place to 
turn for family planning. They looked to Planned Parenthood for their 
healthcare.''

An attorney representing Nadezda Martinez -- a former employee of the 
agency -- sent a letter to the president in June alleging sexual 
harassment from her superiors. She also claimed the 2006 annual report 
was duplicated from the previous year in order to cover up financial 
wrongdoing.

Arreaza, chairman of the board of trustees, said he could not remember 
whether ''the entire copy was duplicated,'' but said a probe is ongoing. 
''The truth is we really are just trying to making the clinic better,'' 
Arreaza said. ``There's no need to worry. When we open again, we're 
going to be leaner and more efficient.''

In Broward, leaner could mean reducing the number of clinics. Handing 
over administrative duties to an affiliate operating in West Palm Beach 
and Miami-Dade is one option. A merger does not guarantee all four 
clinics will reopen, Arreaza said.

For now, clients can only pick up test results and get referrals from 
the clinics. One preexisting program has been saved -- a teen 
empowerment class at the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club. The program is 
funded by a $125,000 grant from Broward County's Children's Services and 
is being operated by the chapter in Orlando.

Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president of Broward County Children's Services 
Council, said employees have done routine spot checks on the program 
and, so far, have found no problems.

''Once we write the check to them, once the money is in their coffers, I 
can't really tell what happens,'' Arenberg Seltzer said. ``I just hope 
they get their house back in order.''


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