Texas Stops Taxpayer Funding for Planned Parenthood Through Medicaid

Austin, TX October 19, 2015-The Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General released a letter of termination today to Planned Parenthood Texas affiliates declaring that their Medicaid funds have been cancelled.  According to the letter, Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid funds are being withdrawn for “a series of serious Medicaid program violations” including:

  • Violating federal laws by “altering the timing or method of an abortion,”
  • “Not comply[ing] with mandatory ‘universal precautions,” including the use of “protective barriers,’ required whenever anyone handles ‘blood’”
  • Failing “To comply with the minimum standards that mandatory training requires with regard to these critical public health and safety issues.”

Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values and Attorney stated, “We applaud the great work of the Inspector General and Governor Abbott’s strong stand for life and health in Texas. We are thankful that Texas has cutoff major taxpayer funding for a destructive organization that has put women in danger, unborn children to death, and engaged in gross misconduct and rampant disregard for basic health standards. May Texas continue to raise the standard of life in our state and in our nation.”

At www.getyourcare.org women can find hundreds of  real choices in Texas when it comes to health care. All across America, thousands of low-cost health centers offer women and their families high-quality health care.

The termination letter states, “Our decision to terminate you and all affiliates in Texas finds support in the extensive video evidence filmed at your facility and other Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country, including video footage of the Medical Director of PPFA who appears to not only condone such program violations but also endorse them. This suggests that the program violations recorded at your facility reflect PPFA national policy or accepted practice, which explains in part their widespread occurrence across the country among Planned Parenthood affiliates.”

The Office of Inspector General also cites Medicaid fraud in the case of Reynolds v. Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, a case in which Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast settled for $4.3 million after being accused of Medicaid fraud by a Whistleblower. The United States Department of Justice criticized Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast when the settlement was reached for “abuse of programs that are extremely important to the well-being of many American women.”

Additionally, cutting Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid funds “Will not affect access to care in this State because there are thousands of alternate providers in Texas, including federally qualified health centers, Medicaid-certified rural health clinics, and other health care providers across the State that participate in the Texas Women’s Health Program and Medicaid. Our women’s health programs, mostly State-funded since 2013, have increased overall funding for women’s health services and access to these services for women across the State.

Governor Greg Abbott issued this statement regarding the termination letter, “Texas has stepped forward and shown its unyielding commitment to both protecting life and providing women’s health services…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.”

About Texas Values

Texas Values is a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.

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