‘Bake sale’ pays off

Over the summer, the CN&R reported that the Chico Planned Parenthood clinic had staged a mock bake sale to call attention to the fact that Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for family planning services had gone up only once in the past 20 years, while costs had gone up 300 percent (“Funding shortage hits local clinic,” July 19). The continued existence of the clinic was threatened, its director reported.

We’re happy to report that the situation has been rectified. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed SB 94, by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), that increased the reimbursement rates. Saying her group was grateful for the support, Heather Estes, CEO of Planned Parenthood Shasta-Diablo, noted that every dollar invested in family planning saves $5.33 in future medical and social-services costs associated with unintended pregnancy up to five years after birth.