Missouri Republicans move to cut Planned Parenthood funds

wireready_09-24-2021-20-02-04_00041_plannedparenthood2

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri lawmakers who want to halt all public funds to Planned Parenthood are recommending that the Legislature give Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s administration authority to cancel abortion providers’ Medicaid contracts based on behavior in other states deemed illegal or unethical.The Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Accountability and Taxpayer Protection approved a report with that recommendation on Thursday. Planned Parenthood is Missouri’s only abortion provider.

Abortion providers are already prohibited from using Medicaid funds for abortion except when the mother’s life is in danger or in the cases of rape or incest. Some lawmakers want to pull all public funds, including those for birth control, sexually transmitted disease treatments, cancer screenings and other health care for low-income women.

Democrats warned that the move would trigger a confrontation with the federal government that could threaten the overall Medicaid program.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI