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Arizona Joins Growing Movement Against Medicaid Circumcisions
Due to the fact that infant circumcision is senseless, unethical, non-medical,
harmful, and a waste of taxpayers' money, Arizona has just joined the list of
other state Medicaid programs that will no longer pay for this mutilating,
destructive, illegitimate surgery.
National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers
PO Box 2512, San Anselmo, California 94979
www.nocirc.org
Tel: 415-488-9883 Fax: 415-488-9660
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5 June 02
CONTACT: Amber Craig, 919-960-9276, amberc@attglobal.net
Marilyn Milos, 415-488-9883, nocirc@cris.com
Arizona Joins Growing Movement Against Medicaid Circumcisions
PHOENIX Arizona became the seventh state to eliminate Medicaid funding for
infant circumcision this week, as Governor Jane Hull allowed the states
budget to become law without her signature. Currently, Medicaid programs in
California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, North Dakota, Mississippi, and many
private HMOs serving Medicaid recipients, as well as some private insurance
companies do not cover circumcision. In the past year, Arizona Medicaid
paid for 12,600 boys to be circumcised at an average cost of $132 per boy
and a total cost of $1.66 million.
Circumcision has grown increasingly controversial in recent years as
mounting evidence indicates that any potential or slight benefits are
outweighed by the surgical risks, pain, complications, and lifetime
consequences of circumcision. Despite the fact that circumcision is not
recommended by any national or international medical organization in the
world, Medicaid pays for 25% of all US newborn circumcisions.
A 2001 report issued by the International Coalition for Genital Integrity
(ICGI) documents Medicaid wastes tens of millions of dollars per year on
circumcision (www.icgi.org). ICGI Co-Director Dr. Rio Cruz states, It is
simply deplorable that our government uses healthcare tax dollars to
subsidize a cultural procedure that causes pain, long-term harm, and
violates a childs right to bodily integrity."
Lawn Griffiths of Tempe praised the Arizona decision, saying, Im relieved
my state no longer pays for such intrusive, maiming surgery. I left my son
intact 27 years ago, and I shouldnt have to pay to harm other little boys."
Taxpayer complaints about government funding of infant circumcisions have
stimulated legislative activity nationwide. Bills have recently been
introduced in Missouri, Michigan, and New Mexico to cease Medicaid funding
of these procedures.
North Carolina also has infant circumcision on its list of potential budget
cuts. Keith Webb and his wife, Alice, were receiving Medicaid six years ago
when their first son was born. We werent provided any information, we were
just asked to sign a form, and he was circumcised. We were appalled to later
learn no anesthesia had been used. Our son had numerous complications that
we had to deal with for two years. We had been grossly misled. If Medicaid
hadnt covered circumcision, we would never have done this to our son."
Taxpayers and those morally opposed to circumcision have joined together in
North Carolina to protest this budget expense. A full-page open letter to
the Governor and state legislature, published in the May 8th issue of widely
distributed Raleigh news magazine and signed by 112 NC citizens, urged that
public funds not be used for non-therapeutic circumcisions
(www.cirp.org/news/ncopenletter05-08-02/).
Most states are experiencing budget deficits and increasing Medicaid costs.
Grassroots efforts are escalating to eliminate tax-dollar funding of
circumcision.
END
Dr. Rio Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA: 831-423-6105, info@icgi.org
Keith and Alice Webb, Farmville, NC: 252-753-0077,
full_time_mom@hotmail.com
Lawn Griffiths, Tempe, AZ : 480-894-1557, tempelawn@msn.com
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