Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Texas Health Officials Try To Distance Commission From Controversial Planned Parenthood Study
The Texas Tribune: Texas Disavows Controversial Women's Health Study
Texas health officials have asked a prominent academic journal to take the state's name off a published finding that Texas women lost access to health care services after lawmakers kicked Planned Parenthood out of a family planning program. (Walters, 3/7)
The Houston Chronicle: HHSC Asks That Its Name Be Removed From Planned Parenthood Study
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is asking that its name be removed from a controversial study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that found women's health suffered after Planned Parenthood was cut from the state's family-planning program. Texas Health Commissioner Chris Traylor wrote in a Feb. 26 letter that he agreed with Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, who, complained about the study, which she called, and asked why two HHSC employees were on the list of researchers. (Bradshaw, 3/7)
In other news, Planned Parenthood in Utah will ask that a decision blocking its funding be overturned, and Republican lawmakers want the Obama administration to act on a 15-month-old abortion law —
The Associated Press: Utah Planned Parenthood To Challenge Defunding Order
The Utah branch of Planned Parenthood is set to ask a federal appeals court Tuesday to reverse a judge's decision that allowed governor to cut off funding to the organization after the release of secretly recorded videos showing out-of-state employees discussing fetal tissue from abortions. Planned Parenthood contends its employees did nothing wrong, and blocking the money that funds STD and sex education programs would leave thousands of people at risk. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has issued an emergency order keeping the federal money flowing, and Planned Parenthood wants to extend it. They argue that U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups abused his discretion when he allowed the governor's decision to stand. (3/8)
Politico Pro: GOP Growing Impatient Over Possible Abortion Violation
Republicans on Capitol Hill are seeking to force the Obama administration to act on a 15-month-old abortion law investigation that could result in gargantuan fines against the state of California, affecting funding for programs like Medicaid and education. (Haberkorn, 3/7)
