Texas Stops Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood

Share On Social!

In 2013, Planned Parenthood served over 93,000 people in Texas; however, Texas officials announced Monday, October 19, 2015, that they would no longer reimburse facilities serving Medicaid patients.

Latinos and low-income residents who are eligible for Medicaid are burdened by more barriers when accessing care thus experience disparities in health, such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.  Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas provides valuable services to reduce health disparities by providing comprehensive reproductive and related healthcare services and delivering science-based education programs.

For example, the following health care services were provided in Texas in 2013:

• 16,663 breast cancer screenings
• 1,053 referrals for free mammograms to eligible patients
• 12,313 cervical cancer screenings
• 1,306 pre-cancerous cervical treatments (colposcopy, LEEP, cryotherapy)
• 11,423 Texan teens and parents received health education to prevent teen pregnancy

In order to reduce disparities in health among Latinos and low income residents, it is essential that states reimburse Medicaid funding to these facilities.

States exclusion of Medicaid funding is a federal issue; therefore, Planned Parenthood officials said they will take legal action to challenge this decision.

Read more here.

Learn more about Planned Parenthood services in Texas.