Obama Administration Threatens States Attempting to Defund Planned Parenthood

Hutchinson’s decision comes after an anti-abortion group released secretly recorded videos showing Planned Parenthood officials describing how they provide fetal tissue for medical research.

In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley notified Planned Parenthood last week that he would be ending their contract with the state to serve Medicaid patients.

But Medicaid experts say recent announcements by the GOP governors of Louisiana and Alabama that they are also attempting to evict Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program in their states are unlikely to become reality.

Planned Parenthood says that the videos have been doctored by an anti-abortion group that leaked the video to appear to be something they aren’t.

“Longstanding Medicaid laws prohibit states from restricting individuals who have coverage through Medicaid from receiving care from a qualified provider”.

Planned Parenthood clinics in Arkansas receive about $51,000 in annual Medicaid payments.

According to federal law, state Medicaid programs are required to cover family-planning services and supplies for anyone of child-bearing age. “By restricting which provider a woman could choose to receive care from, women could lose access to critical preventive care, such as cancer screenings”.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards has enjoyed a close relationship with the White House from the start of Obama’s presidency.

According to the WSJ report, should the states continue to block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, they can request a hearing to settle the matter; however, should the conflict continue, CMS could cut Medicaid funds to the state. “In other situations the contracts were not terminated for cause”.

“The deplorable practices at Planned Parenthood have been exposed to Americans, and I have decided to stop any association with the organization in Alabama”, Bentley said in an August 6 news release. He voted against the Republican-sponsored bill to defund Planned Parenthood together with fellow Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Al Franken and Jeff Merkley, all of whom also received donations from the organisation.

O’Donnell said she saw people working in the clinic collect tissue or organ samples even when a patient refused to sign a consent form – an allegation, if proven, that would violate federal law.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, one of 17 contenders for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, earlier this month was the first to lead his state to cut funding of Planned Parenthood, following a failed effort to do that in the U.S. Congress. “Standing up for women’s health care means standing with Planned Parenthood“.

“Planned Parenthood has donated thousands of dollars to Governor Hassan’s political campaigns, so it is not surprising that she has refused to launch an investigation in New Hampshire or seek alternative providers that offer the same services”, Horn said.

Congress, of course, could defund Planned Parenthood by changing that requirement in Medicaid law.