Feds warn states cutting off Planned Parenthood funding

The Obama administration is stepping up its warnings to states that have taken steps to defund Planned Parenthood by cutting off Medicaid funding, a move federal health officials say is illegal.

Vikki Wachino, who leads the national Medicaid agency, sent a letter Tuesday to all states warning against campaigns to disqualify Planned Parenthood from Medicaid coverage without any evidence of wrongdoing. Ten states have already taken steps to defund the group in that way. 

{mosads}The three-page letter focuses on “women’s health services,” but does not specifically mention Planned Parenthood.

Wachino said Medicaid beneficiaries have a legal right to “see any ‘willing and qualified’ provider of their choice.” She said states don’t have the power to disqualify certain providers for reasons other than the provider’s ability to perform medical procedures.

“Such reasons may not include a desire to target a provider or set of providers for reasons unrelated to their fitness to perform covered services or the adequacy of their billing practices,” Wachino said in a veiled criticism of the GOP-led political campaigns targeting Planned Parenthood.

The defunding efforts come in the wake of last summer’s viral video controversy, in which highly edited footage claimed Planned Parenthood officials had sought to profit from fetal tissue donations. The claims were never substantiated.

Doctors’ offices that offer abortion services, such as those at Planned Parenthood, “shall not be grounds for a state’s action against a provider in the Medicaid program,” she wrote. Under current law, abortion providers are not allowed to use any federal funding, including Medicaid dollars, to fund abortions.

The Obama administration has already sent letters to six states individually after they passed legislation aimed at halting Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood. Federal Medicaid officials have made calls to the agency leaders in states that have singled out the group.

The letter sent Tuesday marks the first time the federal government is warning all states collectively.

Ten states have targeted Planned Parenthood by either approving or considering legislation to prohibit Medicaid funding for the group, according to the administration.

Four states — Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama — have been sued by Planned Parenthood over the actions.

– This post was updated April 19 at 3:28 p.m.