Arkansas
governor cuts state contracts with Planned Parenthood
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[August 15, 2015]
By Steve Barnes
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) - Arkansas
Governor Asa Hutchinson on Friday canceled the state's contracts with
Planned Parenthood, making his the third Southern state to do so since
anti-abortion activists released a series of videos that they say
suggests the organization sells fetal tissue.
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"It is apparent that after the recent revelations on the actions
of Planned Parenthood, that this organization does not represent the
values of the people of our state and Arkansas is better served by
terminating any and all existing contracts with them," Hutchinson, a
Republican, said in a statement.
The move comes after the U.S. government has warned states moving to
defund women's health group Planned Parenthood that they may be in
conflict with federal law.
Planned Parenthood has come under massive criticism from Republicans
and been investigated by several Republican-controlled states after
the release of the videos by an anti-abortion activist group called
the Center for Medical Progress.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Aug/15/images/ads/current/hartsburggrain_daily_sda_021115.png) The Arkansas contracts involved services including nurse
practitioners, pharmacy and family planning and were delivered
through the Arkansas Medicaid program. No state funds were used for
abortions, except in the case of incest, rape or when the life of
the mother was at stake.
Several conservative state legislators had urged Hutchinson to end
all state payments to Planned Parenthood, citing the videos.
Federal law requires state Medicaid programs to cover
family-planning services and supplies for anyone of child-bearing
age. Ending the agreements with Planned Parenthood would limit
beneficiaries' access to care and services from qualified providers
of their choice, according to the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS).
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Alabama and Louisiana, which have also sought to end their
agreements with Planned Parenthood, were cautioned by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services that their actions could put
them afoul of federal regulations which make any qualified provider
eligible to participate in the program.
Planned Parenthood, which provides healthcare services to millions
of women at hundreds of centers nationwide, has denied any
wrongdoing. The organization also says abortions make up 3 percent
of its work.
(Editing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by David Gregorio)
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