Planned Parenthood has been at the center of a national debate since the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress last month began releasing undercover videos showing doctors discussing the sale of fetal body parts.
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The U.S. government has warned states moving to defund women’s health group Planned Parenthood that they may be in conflict with federal law, officials said on Wednesday.
“Although Indiana has broad authority to exclude unqualified providers from its Medicaid program, the state does not have plenary authority to exclude a class of providers for any reason – more particularly for a reason unrelated to provider qualifications”, wrote Appeals Court Judge Diane Sykes in the majority opinion. In Ohio, for example, women’s health and abortion rights advocates have expressed concern over a proposal in the state budget that would eliminate Medicaid coverage for three subsidized insurance programs that involve coverage for family planning, breast and cervical cancer service, and healthcare coverage for pregnant women, FierceHealthcare previously reported.
A renewed focus on Planned Parenthood is highlighting Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s strong support of the group. Planned Parenthood does not represent the values of the people of Louisiana and shows a fundamental disrespect for human life. “I’ve terminated any association with the organization in AL”. “We have to take care of women”.
Neither of those actions is likely to succeed, said Sara Rosenbaum, a law professor and Medicaid specialist at George Washington University.
Bobby Jindal, who is running for the GOP presidential nomination, announced August. 3 that his administration was ending provider agreements that reimbursed Planned Parenthood for providing health services to low-income patients through Medicaid. Ending the agreements with Planned Parenthood would limit beneficiaries’ access to care and services from qualified providers of their choice, according to HHS. Conservatives are now calling for the organization to be entirely stripped of federal dollars.
Sykes was appointed by President George W. Bush and her submission appears to hold true for most other US states that plan to fiddle with Planned Parenthood’s funding.
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CMS could withhold federal Medicaid funds to the states if it deems them out of compliance with federal law, and Planned Parenthood has said it is considering a lawsuit in Louisiana.
