Texas strips Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding

Texas announced Monday, Oct. 19, that it would be removing Medicaid funding to all Planned Parenthood clinics located in the state of Texas. This announcement comes after released undercover videos allegedly show Planned Parenthood employees discussing the illegal sale of aborted fetal tissue.

Planned Parenthood clinics received a letter from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of the Inspector General notifying affiliates that they are “no longer capable of performing medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal, and ethical manner.”

The decision to eliminate funding follows a recent investigation, ordered by Governor Greg Abbott (R), of released undercover videos taken by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, one of which involved a Houston-based Planned Parenthood facility.

The Center for Medical Progress posed as potential tissue procurement companies to Planned Parenthood to discuss the sale of aborted fetal tissue. The videos show the alleged discussion of illegal profiting of tissue donation reimbursement.

Planned Parenthood argues that fetal tissue collected from abortion procedures go to further medical life-saving research, and Planned Parenthood only seeks legal payment from those companies who participate in research for the preservation of the tissue and shipping costs.

Abbott displayed his approval of the Office of Inspector General’s decision in his released press statement.

“Texas has stepped forward and shown its unyielding commitment to both protecting life and providing women’s health services,” Abbott said. “The gruesome harvesting of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood will not be allowed in Texas, and the barbaric practice must be brought to an end. As such, ending the Medicaid participation of Planned Parenthood affiliates in the State of Texas is another step in providing greater access to safe healthcare for women while protecting our most vulnerable – the unborn.”

Planned Parenthood officials released in a statement their opposition toward the undercover videos and deny that they have broken any laws involving the process of donated aborted fetal tissue. They claim, the videos are highly edited.

“This is not about Planned Parenthood, it’s about women and men being cut off from preventive health care, including cancer screenings, HIV testing  and birth control,” said Alejandra Diaz, communications specialist for Planned Parenthood. “Planned Parenthood will continue to fight for access to health care and information for all Texans.”

The systematic removal of funding for Planned Parenthood has been an ongoing process in the state of Texas for the past five years. In September of 2011, Planned Parenthood was excluded from receiving any state funds, and in 2013 Planned Parenthood was denied from participating in the Texas Women’s Health Program.

Planned Parenthood offers a variety of health services that include STD testing and treatment, contraception, cancer screening and prevention and miscellaneous services such as adoption referrals to other agencies and urinary tract infection treatments. Abortion accounts for 3 percent of services provided by Planned Parenthood clinics.

Planned Parenthood representatives note that because their facilities provide an array of health services for low income individuals, the result of removing Medicaid funds will have a negative effect on the reproductive healthcare of individuals who relied on their services.

This recent ruling adds more fuel to Gov. Abbot’s LIFE Initiative plan. The LIFE Initiative is a plan to protect the unborn and prevent the selling of fetal tissue and body parts. The ‘F’ in LIFE refers to removing funding specifically for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers out of taxpayer money completely, both at the state and local levels. The remaining letters refer to make laws making partial-birth abortion a felony in Texas, improve/expand adoption services and eliminate sale of fetal tissue by abortion clinics.

Planned Parenthood maintains that Medicaid reimbursement is provided for health services such as preventive health care and no reimbursement is used for abortion services. Since the Hyde

Amendment was implemented in 1977, the use of federal funds for abortions is forbidden except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest. Texas is one of 17 states to use state funds to provide all or most medically necessary abortions.

There are currently 13,000 Medicaid participants who receive health services not related to abortion from Planned Parenthood who will need to find other health care providers. Data from the Texas Research Evaluation Project shows 55 percent of Texas women reported experiencing “at least one barrier to accessing reproductive health care services.” That main barrier is cost.

Teresa, who did not wish to disclose her last name, is the center coordinator for Community Pregnancy Center of Pasadena, a facility offering healthcare services for low income women and Medicaid participants. She explains that Houston and surrounding areas do offer assistance for low income individuals.

“There are options for low income individuals in city of Houston,” Teresa said. “For instance, Community Pregnancy Center of Pasadena offers services for low income individuals who are in need of pregnancy tests, referrals to other health organizations and provide assistance with information for adoption/abortion services. Individuals just need to sit down and seek organizations that exist to serve their healthcare needs.”

The videos concerning Planned Parenthood are still undergoing investigation.

“One thing will never change: Planned Parenthood will continue to be here for the Texans who rely on us, and to fight for all Texans to have access to quality, safe, compassionate and affordable health care,” Diaz said.  “We will fight back against this outrageous, malicious, political attack in Texas with everything we’ve got, and we will protect women’s access to the health care they need and deserve,”

Planned Parenthood plans to appeal the decision taken against them, but has yet to reveal what those steps entail.