Planned Parenthood files lawsuit against state over new health care bill

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In a press release Monday, Missouri's two Planned Parenthood affiliates, Great Plains and Great Rivers, announced they filed complaints in the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission after being removed from the Missouri Medicaid Program.

Introduced by state Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage) on Feb. 5, Missouri House Bill 2634 prevents government funds from going to any abortion facility or affiliate to an abortion facility.

According to CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Emily Wales, Missouri Planned Parenthood has been tracking the bill since it's inception.

Since the bill doesn't name Planned Parenthood specifically, the organization was waiting to see how the Medicaid authority would interpret it. This was until the organization was notified they were removed from the plan.

"When we were served with the termination notices, we knew that we needed to take action legally to try to make sure that our doors could still be open to Medicaid patients," Wales said.

Smith's idea behind the bill was preventing Planned Parenthoods in Missouri from receiving government funding which they can later use to fund out-of-state abortion programs.

"When you do business with an entity like Planned Parenthood, you're ultimately subsidizing those abortion services, even if they are in other states," Smith said during a floor debate on Feb. 28. "This vote is a vote for life and is a vote in favor of the taxpayers."

Wales argued against these claims, stating that clinic services work at a loss with Medicare funds only being able to cover part of the services. Private donations cover the rest of the costs.

"This is not about somehow subtly, secretly, supplying resources for abortion," Wales said. "The only way that Missourians are actually having publicly funded money go to anything out of state is really through the legislature that is funding through a tax credit program."

In their complaint, Planned Parenthood argues that the bill will harm low-income Missourians. According to their press release, close to one-in-five Missouri Planned Parenthood patients being insured through Medicaid. Through the clinic, patients receive basic health care services.

"Because Missourians currently live under a total abortion ban, patients are not coming to us, and especially through the Medicaid program, to to receive abortion services," Wales said. "What patients are coming to see Planned Parenthood for are STI testing and treatment, getting birth control options, cancer screenings."

According to Wales, it is currently up to courts to set dates to proceed with the case. Wales hopes that the case will go through quickly to prevent any delays in getting patients care.

"It's just not sustainable for us to continue to fundraise, try to find resources, support these patients who already are in a publicly funded program that should allow them to access care at Planned Parenthood," Wales said.

According to the release, Planned Parenthood will continue to accept Medicaid patients at health care centers across Missouri as the lawsuit continues.

ABC 17 News reached out to Smith, Parson and members of Right To Life Missouri.