Overland Park Planned Parenthood clinic is cleared in inquiry ordered by Brownback

Kansas’ medical board is taking no action against a Planned Parenthood clinic after completing an investigation into whether illegal sales of fetal tissue are occurring after abortions.

A State Board of Healing Arts disciplinary attorney sent a letter last week to Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri saying the board’s disciplinary staff had investigated the group’s clinic in Overland Park.

The Associated Press on Thursday obtained a copy of the letter, which said a board disciplinary panel had reviewed material gathered during the investigation.

“After careful review of the investigative materials, the Panel determined no further action would be taken at this time; however the materials will be kept on file and reviewed again in the event future issues arise,” disciplinary attorney Dan Riley wrote.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback called on the board to investigate whether commercial sales of fetal tissue were occurring in Kansas following an anti-abortion group’s release of secretly recorded video of Planned Parenthood officials in other states talking about the handling of fetal tissue.

Brownback announced in his State of the State address Tuesday that he’d ordered the state health department’s secretary to ensure that Planned Parenthood receives no funds from the state’s Medicaid program for services it provides. The governor cited “Planned Parenthood’s trafficking of baby body parts.”

Planned Parenthood officials nationally have said the videos were misleadingly edited as part of a smear campaign. The regional affiliate – and other abortion providers in Kansas – have said they don’t even have programs that allow legal donations of fetal tissue.

Laura McQuade, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, said in a statement that the videos created a “toxic” environment and that Brownback “knowingly made false statements” to justify his action.

Planned Parenthood says it receives about $61,000 a year in Medicaid funds to reimburse it for health exams, cancer screenings and birth-control services. Medicaid provides health coverage for the poor and disabled.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 4:25 PM.