Planned Parenthood sues Missouri, alleging state poised to unlawfully withhold funds
Planned Parenthood sued the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) on Thursday, alleging Gov. Mike Parson is only a day away from unlawfully defunding the organization.
DSS on Friday will begin refusing to reimburse Planned Parenthood for care provided to Missouri patients through Medicaid, according to letters from the agency to the organization. The lawsuit is the latest in a long-running battle between the state’s sole abortion provider and Republicans who don’t want any public dollars going toward it.
Planned Parenthood is already prohibited from receiving taxpayer funding for abortions. But the organization also offers reproductive health care services that are covered by Medicaid.
Missouri is on the verge of joining a small group of states in violating federal Medicaid law, Planned Parenthood alleges, by refusing to allow the organization to participate in the program. Texas and Arkansas have also moved to block Planned Parenthood from Medicaid.
“As a four-state provider of health care, no one has seen more patients fleeing Texas after lawmakers put their own interests ahead of patients’ rights. We know what a crisis in care looks like, and conservative politicians are determined to force Missourians to endure the same horrors,” Emily Wales, Planned Parenthood Great Plains interim president and CEO, said in a statement.
“The Medicaid law is clear, and Missouri is in desperate need of providers committed to seeing everyone who needs them. Planned Parenthood is just that: a provider whose doors are open,” Wales said. “We’re fighting on behalf of our patients, both to combat the Parson administration’s targeting of those in need and the Biden administration’s failure to intervene.”
DSS sent letters to Planned Parenthood affiliates on March 4 outlining plans to end reimbursement payments by the end of the day Friday. The letters cite a provision included in the supplemental budget bill passed by the General Assembly and signed by Parson last month.
The legislation appropriates $0 for medical and health-related services performed by any clinic or facility (other than hospitals) where abortions are performed or induced “or any affiliate or associate of any such clinic” or facility.
The bill is the latest attempt by lawmakers to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget. The Missouri Supreme Court previously ruled in 2020 that the legislature had violated the state constitution by making the policy change through the state budget, forcing the state to reimburse Planned Parenthood for health care provided to Medicaid patients.
Planned Parenthood said Thursday the defunding defies the court decision. Additionally, the organization plans to launch a nationwide petition calling on the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enforce federal Medicaid law.
“The Missouri General Assembly possesses constitutional authority to appropriate funds and state agencies are beholden to the appropriations laws as enacted by the General Assembly,” Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones said in a statement. “Other state legislatures have placed similar limitations on their Medicaid programs and ultimately the courts will adjudicate cases and controversies that arise from this kind of legislation.”
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, said House Democrats are hopeful Planned Parenthood is successful in its legal challenge.
“I’m thankful they have filed a suit today. I’m hopeful that they’ll be able to continue to provide those services to Missourians who need it,” Quade said.
Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said in a statement that while the lawsuit is ongoing the organization would continue serving Medicaid patients at no cost.
Attempts to defund Planned Parenthood have nearly derailed Missouri’s Medicaid program in the past. Last year, the General Assembly during its regular session failed to renew a tax critical to funding Medicaid over a push by hard-right lawmakers to attach a provision withholding public dollars from the organization.
Parson called a special session and legislators eventually renewed the tax even as some vowed to continue their pursuit of Planned Parenthood.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
This story was originally published March 10, 2022 at 12:20 PM.
