move to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood clinics has not
only created a national abortion controversy, but also posed a dilemma
for the Obama administration.
While the state’s action appears to violate the
Medicaid Act, federal officials have few obvious remedies other than to
cut off money that pays for health care for low-income women.
The controversy revolves around abortion even though the federal law says none of the
Republicans say, however, that paying for medical services provided by
a Planned Parenthood clinic supports the facility and indirectly
subsidizes abortion.
set the stage for a legal and political clash with the administration
last weekend when he announced he will sign legislation requiring the
funding cut off for Planned Parenthood. An “overwhelming majority of
Hoosiers” are opposed in principle to any use of “tax dollars to
support abortion,” he said.
But the federal Medicaid Act, which pays for care
for patients who are poor, says these persons may choose any provider
who is “qualified” and “willing” to provide the service. In many
states, Planned Parenthood clinics provide basic health care and
medical tests for low-income women.
Still, the federal money flows through the states. And this week,
will become the first to bar funding for “any entity that performs
abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are
performed.”
The measure targets the 28 clinics run by Planned Parenthood in
This week, U.S. health officials have been pondering how to respond.
“If the state denies payment to these providers, that would be illegal,” said
the U.S. agency that administers the two huge health care programs.
“There are some options available to us. But I can’t say what action
will be taken to bring the state into compliance. All we can say now is
we will review the matter once
The long-standing assumption has been that the
federal government and the states would work together to provide health
care for poor patients, said
In the past, disputes arose over whether to cut off
funding to nursing homes or clinics because of questions about the
quality of their care. “This is radically different. This is about the
exclusion of a qualified provider over something that is unrelated to
Rosenbaum said. “But the Secretary (of Health and Human Resources)
doesn’t have an obvious remedy other than a total cutoff of federal
funds.”
In February, House Republicans, led by Rep.
“I expect a lot of states will try to do this,” Rosenbaum said.
Daniels, a former budget director for President
has strong support in Republican circles because of his background in
overseeing state and federal budgets. He irritated some social
conservatives earlier this year when he called for a “truce” on social
issues. But his announcement last week that he will sign the
Lawyers for Planned Parenthood say they will quickly go to federal court seeking an order that stops the
Cockrum says federal funding provides about
a year. She argues that a cutoff in funds would not only hurt health
care for low-income women, but also increase the incidence of abortion.
“They are attacking the largest provider of family
planning services. Nobody does more than we do to reduce the incidence
of unintended pregnancies and abortions,” she said. “If this goes
forward, it will cause
Daniels, however, argued that low-income women will
still have plenty of options for health care beyond Planned Parenthood.
“I … can confirm that all non-abortion-services, whether family
planning or basic women’s health, will remain readily available in
every one of our 92 counties,” he said.
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(c) 2011, Tribune Co.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
