The Department of Health and Human Services under the Obama administration has proposed last week a new rule that would protect Planned Parenthood and other family planning providers from being defunded due to political reasons. Under the proposal, states are prohibited from withholding family planning budgets from organizations like Planned Parenthood unless the provider is unable to deliver effective services to beenficiaries of the program.
This came after Republicans threatened to stop funding for Planned Parenthood after it was reported that their clinics offer abortion services even if such services account for only 3% of the overall services provided by the said clinics. Such move is seen as a last-minute effort by the Obama administration to save the funding for Planned Parenthood before the reins of government is turned over to the Republicans who are known for their hostility to the family planning group.
The Obama administration is trying to protect Planned Parenthood's federal funding before the president turns over the reins of government to Republicans who have historically been hostile to the family planning group.
NPR said the regulation, which was finalized by the Department, states that there should be no discrimination against providers when it comes to to grants funded by the federal government for women's health programs. While Planned Parenthood was not specifically named in the rule, it is clear that it was the result of recent moves by the Republicans against the organization.
Huffington Post said the federal government grants Planned Parenthood over $500 every year, 75% of which is sourced from Medicaid for low-income patients. Under Title X program, up to four million Americans with low income get family planning and basic preventive health care, and one third of them are served by Planned Parenthood. The new regulation can however be overturned under the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump on the basis of the Congressional Review Act.
"President Obama has cemented his legacy as a champion for women's health. This rule protects birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and other health care for millions of people. Yet this fight is not over. We are deeply concerned about the future of health care access in this country with extremists like Mike Pence and Tom Price at the helm," Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a statement published
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