AUSTIN, Texas – The decision Monday to cut off all state-controlled Medicaid funding that comes from the federal government takes effect in the next 30 days.
State health officials said undercover videos forced them to take action. They show Planned Parenthood representatives speaking to anti-abortion activists about purchasing fetal tissue.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state officials to investigate after the videos surfaced. The result from the Office of the Inspector General read, in part:
"Planned Parenthood affiliates are no longer capable of performing medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal, and ethical manner."
"We were incredibly disappointed, although not surprised, because we have seen these kinds of political attacks on women's health care and women being able to access health care at Planned Parenthood for literally years now," Planned Parenthood spokesperson, Rochelle Tafolla, said.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he's proud of that defunding.
"We have defunded Planned Parenthood in the past from state funds. Today, we take that next step," Patrick said. "We will no longer fund Planned Parenthood with any Medicaid funding in the state of Texas."
Planned Parenthood said since Medicaid funding is not used for abortions, this move only hurts the most impoverished women in the state.
"The truth is Medicaid does not cover abortions. Medicaid covers preventive care, like a cancer screening and a well woman exam. Yet, these politicians are using their view of abortion to cut off Medicaid, and that's just plain and simple wrong and it's politics," Tafolla said.
To which the state said, "...will not affect access to care in this state because there are thousands of alternate providers in Texas."
Planned Parenthood is still seeing Medicaid patients for the next 30 days, and in the meantime, they plan to appeal this decision.