In wake of scandal surrounding videos, Alabama governor says the state will stop funding the group.
Associated Press Aug. 7, 2015
7:56 a.m. EDT
KIM CHANDLER, Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) —
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said Thursday that he is cutting off state Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood in the face of undercover videos shot by anti-abortion activists that implied the group was selling fetal tissue to researchers.
The Republican governor sent Planned
Parenthood Southeast a letter announcing that
he was terminating agreements that allowed
Planned Parenthood to be reimbursed for
providing health care services to Medicaid
patients. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is running for GOP presidential nomination,
announced a similar decision Monday.
"The deplorable practices at Planned
Parenthood have been exposed to Americans,
and I have decided to stop any association with the organization in Alabama. As a doctor and Alabama's governor, the issue of human life, from conception to birth and beyond, is extremely important. I respect human life and do not want Alabama to be associated with an
organization that does not," Bentley said.
Alabama Medicaid Agency records show that
the state has paid Planned Parenthood
Southeast less than $5,000 over the last two
years. The payments were for contraceptives
for low-income women and not abortion.
Medicaid in this fiscal year paid the group
$3,417.58 for office visits, contraceptive implants and birth control shots. The state Medicaid Agency paid the group $933.79 in 2014 for an office visit, birth control shots and one IUD insertion and injections.
"We are disappointed that Gov. Bentley has
been distracted by a deceptive attack against
our organization instead of staying focused on
what really matters to women in Alabama. What Alabamians need is more access to health care, not less," said Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast.
Fox said the organization provides cancer
screenings, well-woman exams, birth control
options, and STD testing and treatment.
"Because of our health centers, low-income,
uninsured women and families were able to
access high-quality affordable health care through the safety net provided by Medicaid
funding," she said.
Planned Parenthood operates health care
clinics in Mobile and Birmingham.
The anti-abortion group, the Center for Medical Progress, released several secretly shot videos with Planned Parenthood executives describing how the organization provides fetal tissue to medical researchers and discussing different procedures and prices.
Planned Parenthood executives have denied
claims that the transactions were sales and said any donations are legal and ethical. The law allows abortion providers to be paid for
processing fees but not to profit from fetal tissue.
The U.S. Senate on Monday blocked Republican legislation to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood in the wake of the videos.
The Associated Press
Associated Press Aug. 7, 2015
7:56 a.m. EDT
KIM CHANDLER, Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) —
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said Thursday that he is cutting off state Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood in the face of undercover videos shot by anti-abortion activists that implied the group was selling fetal tissue to researchers.
The Republican governor sent Planned
Parenthood Southeast a letter announcing that
he was terminating agreements that allowed
Planned Parenthood to be reimbursed for
providing health care services to Medicaid
patients. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is running for GOP presidential nomination,
announced a similar decision Monday.
"The deplorable practices at Planned
Parenthood have been exposed to Americans,
and I have decided to stop any association with the organization in Alabama. As a doctor and Alabama's governor, the issue of human life, from conception to birth and beyond, is extremely important. I respect human life and do not want Alabama to be associated with an
organization that does not," Bentley said.
Alabama Medicaid Agency records show that
the state has paid Planned Parenthood
Southeast less than $5,000 over the last two
years. The payments were for contraceptives
for low-income women and not abortion.
Medicaid in this fiscal year paid the group
$3,417.58 for office visits, contraceptive implants and birth control shots. The state Medicaid Agency paid the group $933.79 in 2014 for an office visit, birth control shots and one IUD insertion and injections.
"We are disappointed that Gov. Bentley has
been distracted by a deceptive attack against
our organization instead of staying focused on
what really matters to women in Alabama. What Alabamians need is more access to health care, not less," said Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast.
Fox said the organization provides cancer
screenings, well-woman exams, birth control
options, and STD testing and treatment.
"Because of our health centers, low-income,
uninsured women and families were able to
access high-quality affordable health care through the safety net provided by Medicaid
funding," she said.
Planned Parenthood operates health care
clinics in Mobile and Birmingham.
The anti-abortion group, the Center for Medical Progress, released several secretly shot videos with Planned Parenthood executives describing how the organization provides fetal tissue to medical researchers and discussing different procedures and prices.
Planned Parenthood executives have denied
claims that the transactions were sales and said any donations are legal and ethical. The law allows abortion providers to be paid for
processing fees but not to profit from fetal tissue.
The U.S. Senate on Monday blocked Republican legislation to cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood in the wake of the videos.
The Associated Press
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