government
District judge blocks defunding of Planned Parenthood of Indiana
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 4, 2011
A federal district judge on June 24 approved an injunction against the enforcement of an Indiana law seeking to defund Planned Parenthood of Indiana.
The decision means that Planned Parenthood will be reimbursed for services billed to Medicaid patients while a lawsuit against the defunding measure is pending.
The Indiana law, which took effect in May, bars state agencies from entering into contracts or making grants with entities that perform abortions. Organizations impacted by the law may resume Medicaid funding by "ceasing or separating its operations that perform abortions," Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a statement.
In her ruling to block the law temporarily, U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt said the public interest tilts in favor of granting the injunction. The law will exact a "devastating financial toll on Planned Parenthood of Indiana and hinder its ability to continue serving patients' general health needs," she said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/07/04/gvbf0704.htm.
