Federal Funding Application
Draft Released on May 12, 2017
Policy Summary
In 2011, Texas stopped receiving federal funding because it refused to comply with the federal law requiring states to fund any willing provider. The main reason for this refusal was Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the Medicaid waiver program. Texas instead opted to forgo about $30 million a year in federal funding and in 2013 created its own healthcare for women known as Healthy Texas Women. Now that Trump is President, Texas is looking to restore federal funding for family planning while continuing to exclude Planned Parenthood and any other providers that support abortions. LEARN MORE
Analysis
If the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approves Texas’s Medicaid waiver, other conservative states will likely adopt similar strategies to defund pro-abortion providers or undermine Medicaid under Obamacare. For 17 million women, Planned Parenthood is a primary source of essential healthcare as well as reproductive and general health education. If the grant were approved, providers like Planned Parenthood would not be able to see Medicaid patients and those women would have fewer choices for healthcare providers. The Healthy Texas Women program also requires that teenagers have parental approval before accessing any type of family planning services, a provision that could increase unplanned teen pregnancies and STDs. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Planned Parenthood – Learn about Planned Parenthood’s services and donate or get involved to keep women in control of their bodies
- Learn more about Healthy Texas Women and how it has affected women’s reproductive healthcare in Texas.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact Ann@usresistnews.org.
