Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Monday that Louisiana is ending its Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has informed Planned Parenthood that it would terminate the organization’s Medicaid provider agreement, says a press release from the governor’s office.
The action is in response to the recent undercover investigations of the nation’s largest abortion provider. Videos have shown Planned Parenthood’s chief medical personnel engaging in the sale of the body parts of aborted babies.
The press release states:
According to the Medicaid provider contract between DHH and Planned Parenthood, along with relevant Louisiana law, either party can choose to cancel the contract at will after providing written notice. Governor Jindal and DHH decided to give the required 30-day notice to terminate the Planned Parenthood Medicaid provider contract because Planned Parenthood does not represent the values of the State of Louisiana in regards to respecting human life. Pending the ongoing investigation, DHH reserves the right to amend the cancellation notice and terminate the provider agreement immediately should cause be determined.
Bobby Jindal directed DHH to investigate the activities of Planned Parenthood in Louisiana and also sent a letter to the state’s Inspector General and the FBI requesting their assistance with the investigation.
“In recent weeks, it has been shocking to see reports of the alleged activities taking place at Planned Parenthood facilities across the country,” he said. “Planned Parenthood does not represent the values of the people of Louisiana and shows a fundamental disrespect for human life. It has become clear that this is not an organization that is worthy of receiving public assistance from the state.”
The press release notes that Louisiana’s Medicaid Family Planning Services program is required to provide adequate services to women.
“Cancellation of this contract at will does not jeopardize those services in any way as Planned Parenthood is just one of many providers in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas,” the statement says.
In response to Jindal’s announcement, former Louisiana lawmaker and president of Family Research Council Tony Perkins said:
We commend Governor Jindal for acting to end the flow of taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood, a scandal plagued organization that is under investigation for criminal wrong doing.
The governor’s actions protect women’s health and ensure that taxpayer dollars aren’t used to fund baby part harvesters. Ending these contracts will give a boost to Louisiana’s 163 health centers that aren’t under federal and state investigation and offer a broader array of medical services than Planned Parenthood.
Louisiana is an overwhelmingly pro-life state, but you don’t have to be pro-life to be horrified by the videos suggesting Planned Parenthood manipulated the abortion procedure to yield the most marketable baby parts — increasing the risk to women.
We call on Congress and other states to follow Governor Jindal’s examples.
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