Planned Parenthood Sues; WHP Providers Needed
Citing their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and association, Texas Planned Parenthood branches yesterday filed a federal lawsuit to stop the state from excluding them from the Women's Health Program (WHP).
The Planned Parenthood affiliates, none of which performs abortions, are asking for an injunction to stop the state's enforcement of its new WHP rule that would force them out of the program by April 30. The new rule, which prohibits WHP participation by "affiliates" of abortion providers, is in place because of the insistence of the 2011 Texas Legislature and the Governor's office. The federal government withdrew federal funding of the program (about $35 million) because the new state rule's exclusion of Planned Parenthood is not compatible with the "any willing provider" provision of the federal Medicaid statute. Rather than include Planned Parenthood affiliates as WHP providers, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) intends to continue the program using only state funds.
The scarcity of available providers is a major issue for this state-only WHP. In the past, Planned Parenthood clinics provided the checkups and birth control for 44% of the women served by the program. Private physician offices have not flocked to participate in the program. Texas' non-Planned Parenthood family-planning clinics (none of which provide abortions) are reeling from massive budget cuts; many have closed clinics, cut back services, and laid off staff. The state's network of Federally Qualified Health Centers has indicated that they are not able to absorb so many preventive-care patients. If Planned Parenthood clinics are excluded from the program, many eligible women may not be able to find a provider.
Members and friends of the Healthy Futures Alliance (HFA) are alarmed by this provider crisis, which comes on top of the funding crisis for women's preventive care. Our concern is that we have enough providers to meet the needs of a growing population who lack access to basic preventive care. This will take all the providers that we can muster. Texas needs a full spectrum of providers -- both primary care providers and family planning clinics - to serve all the women in need.
The ability to plan pregnancies is key to having healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Preventing unplanned pregnancy is a huge factor for young women and men completing their education and escaping the cycle of poverty.
