Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Judge Pauses Texas' Plans To Oust Planned Parenthood From Medicaid
Houston Chronicle: Judge Temporarily Blocks Texas From Kicking Planned Parenthood Out Of Medicaid Program
A Texas judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked Republican leaders from kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid, as the nonprofit provider claims the effort did not follow procedure and could unjustly strip some 8,000 low-income women of critical care including birth control, STI treatments and cancer screenings. State health officials had given women on Medicaid until Wednesday to find alternatives to Planned Parenthood for the non-abortion services. Planned Parenthood and other women’s health advocates have warned there are few other providers willing to provide the care, in part because the state’s reimbursement rate is among the lowest in the country. (Blackman and Bureau, 2/3)
The Texas Tribune: Texas Temporarily Blocked From Kicking Planned Parenthood Out Of Medicaid
In a last-minute proceeding on Wednesday, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble granted a temporary restraining order and set a hearing for Feb. 17. The state had given Planned Parenthood's Medicaid patients until Wednesday to find new doctors after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas officials who have long sought to block the health provider from participating in the joint federal-state health insurance program for the poor. (Najmabadi, 2/3)
CNN: Judge Temporarily Blocks Planned Parenthood's Ouster From Texas Medicaid Program
The impacts of such a shift could be stark. In 2019, Planned Parenthood provided health care to more than 8,000 Medicaid recipients in the state, according to the most recent figures available from the organization. Additionally, Texas has reported nearly 2.5 million Covid-19 cases and reported over 38,000 deaths from the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Texas has long sought to ban Planned Parenthood from the program -- though Medicaid funding does not cover abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is at risk, due to the Hyde Amendment, which dates back to 1976. (Kelly, 2/4)
