The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services warned Alabama on Thursday that its cancellation of Medicaid contracts with Planned Parenthood could violate federal law.
Advertisement
The language in the contracts allows either party to cancel the contract at will with 30 days notice.
“It is clear that after the current revelations on the actions of Planned Parenthood, that this group doesn’t symbolize the values of the individuals of our state and Arkansas is best served by terminating any and all present contracts with them”, Hutchinson, a Republican, stated in a press release. The Obama administration says no, and has fired warning shots across bows of two states that moved to block funds to Planned Parenthood.
Recent efforts in Congress to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding for women’s health services would affect any funding Planned Parenthood clinics might receive through serving regular Medicaid clients, Medicaid waiver programs, and programs for breast and cervical cancer screening – even though none of this funding pays for abortion services.
Safar said these bills are just the newest installment in a decades-long assault on Planned Parenthood by conservative politicians.
Planned Parenthood clinics in Arkansas receive about $51,000 in annual Medicaid payments. “I respect human life and do not want Alabama to be associated with an organization that does not”, he said.
“I think she certainly should consider recusing herself if anything further about Planned Parenthood comes to her office”, Fox said.
After a gotcha video made by anti-abortion activists portrayed Planned Parenthood’s strategy for selling fetal tissue, the battle over who controls women’s health was reignited.
Is it shocking that in 2015 the organization, as well as the term “Planned Parenthood” remains threatening enough to shut it down?
“There is no reason in the world to have Planned Parenthood other than abortion“, said Sen.
In Alabama, Governor Robert Bentley sent a letter to the head of the Planned Parenthood abortion business in Alabama notifying it of his decision.
“When states accept federal money, they have to accept the conditions the federal government puts on them”, said DiPippa.
The HHS guidance, however, also says that states can exclude providers from Medicaid funding if their engagement in certain criminal acts is proven, a provision that many believe is the case with the videos of Planned Parenthood’s top medical personnel discussing the sale of aborted baby organs and body parts.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, one of 17 contenders for the 2016 Republican nomination, was the first to lead his state to cut funding.
Advertisement
In a New Hampshire connection to those videos, The Hill reported this week that 2010 candidate for governor Ovide Lamontagne, who is now general counsel for the Washington-based Americans United for Life, said his group worked with CMP since January and provided “advice”.
