government
Court denies Planned Parenthood state funding
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 21, 2013
A Texas judge on Jan. 11 allowed the state to move forward with excluding Planned Parenthood clinics from an assistance program for low-income women.
In 2011, Texas enacted a law barring Planned Parenthood from participating in the state-funded assistance program because some of the organization’s centers provide abortions. Planned Parenthood sued over the rule, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pulled its federal funding for the initiative, saying the measure violated federal law. On Jan. 1, the state launched a nearly identical program funded entirely by state dollars and again excluded Planned Parenthood.
The organization in January asked a court to allow it back into the program, but District Judge Stephen Yelenosky denied the request. While the case continues, women may not obtain services covered by the Texas Women’s Health Program at Planned Parenthood health centers.
