Damn. Texas may end program that provides contraceptives, cancer screenings to poor women

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120223-texas-may-end-program-that-provides-contraceptives-cancer-screenings-to-poor-women.ece?action=reregister

Related AUSTIN — Texas has signaled that it would rather lose $35 million annually in federal help to provide 130,000 poor women access to health care than allow Planned Parenthood to receive part of the funding.

Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs signed a rule Thursday that officially bans Planned Parenthood and abortion provider affiliates from getting funding from Texas’ largely successful Women’s Health Program.

This move marks the potential end to a long and hotly disputed battle over federal funding for Planned Parenthood. It’s also probably the end of the Women’s Health Program, which gives low-income women contraceptives and cancer screenings each year.

Federal officials have already warned Texas that if it excludes Planned Parenthood, the government will not renew Texas’ version of the program, which gets $9 in federal funds for every $1 the state spends. In many rural areas, clinics receiving the grants are the only option for some women to receive preventive health services.

Lawmakers couldn’t pass a bill to continue the Women’s Health Program in last year’s legislative session, amid a battle over whether to ban Planned Parenthood from participating. But they attached a provision to the state budget to keep the program running.

Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman for Suehs, said an attorney general opinion last year allows the state to set criteria for the program, which is part of Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor. The rule issued Thursday would put the state in conflict with the federal government’s mandate that Planned Parenthood and similar groups be included.

“We felt like we have a state law that’s very clear, we have an AG opinion that says this is constitutionally valid, so we need to go ahead and enforce this law,” Goodman said. “We’re concerned about the long-term health of the program. But we knew when we renewed the program that we would fully enforce this.”

The Women’s Health Program will probably be phased out by the end of March.