Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
S.C. Medicaid Agency Paid For 222 Abortions In Last 5 Years, Director Says
The (Columbia, S.C.) State: S.C. Medicaid Agency Has Paid For 222 Abortions In Last 5 Years
South Carolina’s Medicaid agency has paid for 222 abortions during the past five years, according to a state agency. Planned Parenthood could have performed up to two additional abortions, a S.C. House oversight panel looking into how state agencies interact with Planned Parenthood was told Wednesday. State Health and Human Services head Christian Soura told the panel those two payments could be medical coding errors. For example, one bill was for $78, far less than the cost of an abortion. (Cope, 9/30)
The Associated Press: Director: Medicaid Funded 222 Abortions Statewide In 5 Years
Medicaid paid for 222 abortions in South Carolina over the past five fiscal years, but none of those were provided by Planned Parenthood, the agency's director said Wednesday to legislators who are investigating state spending on abortions. South Carolina's Medicaid agency has spent $437,361 on 222 abortions performed between July 1, 2010, and July 30, 2015. Those numbers may adjust, as providers have a year to seek payment, and a review of 2014-15 payments is under way, Health and Human Services Director Christian Soura said. The law allows Medicaid to pay for abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. (Adcox, 9/30)
In the news from Ohio -
Reuters: Planned Parenthood Unit Wins Order To Keep Abortion Clinics Open
An Ohio chapter of Planned Parenthood has won a federal temporary restraining order against enforcement of a recently passed state law that would close two of the organization's abortion clinics. (Pierson, 10/1)
