The 5th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Texas and Louisiana can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics.
Pro-life advocates say they are happy with the court's decision.
”We’re very excited that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to allow the state of Texas to cut Planned Parenthood out of the state Medicaid program,” said Joe Pojman, the executive director of Texas Alliance for Life.
Pro-choice advocates say Planned Parenthood provides many non-abortion services, such as STI testing and treatment, birth control, and other healthcare services that will now be affected by this action.
”There’s a lot of people in lower income areas that they totally rely on this, and this has nothing to do with just abortion. It’s about cancer screening and birth control and just overall health,” said Brazos Valley resident Jaime Stanley.
”It’s not about cutting funding for women's health services. This is about shifting money from Planned Parenthood to other providers who provide many better services,” said Pojman.
Alexis Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, tweeted her concerns of who this mandate will target.
Forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Texas Medicaid program would have a devastating impact on Texans. @GovAbbott knows exactly who he’s hurting — people of color, women, and people with low incomes. https://t.co/pV9kARicb3
— Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) November 23, 2020
”I know that I have been lucky enough to where that is not something that I have had to lean on in the past. However I know that I am the exception and not the rule, and there are far more people who would benefit from Planned Parenthood than wouldn’t, so it’s not a question,” said Stanley.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas released a statement stating the ruling has not taken effect and they will continue to serve all Medicaid patients.