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 Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin could lose about $7.5 million a
year because of the measures, an organization spokeswoman said.
Texas, Louisiana other Republican-controlled states tried to halt
funding for the reproductive health organization after an
anti-abortion group released videos last summer purported to show
Planned Parenthood officials trying to negotiate prices for aborted
fetal tissue. Under federal law, donated human fetal tissue may be
used for research, but profiting from its sale is prohibited.
A grand jury in Texas cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing
and indicted two anti-abortion activists behind the filming of the
videos for tampering with a government record and violating a
prohibition on the purchase and sale of human organs.
 One of the new Wisconsin rules requires the state to apply for
federal "Title X" family planning grant money and to give those
monies to "less controversial public entities" such as state, county
and local health departments and clinics, a statement from Walker's
office said.
Planned Parenthood is currently the only entity in Wisconsin
receiving this federal money and the funds will not be sent to the
organization, the statement said.
State entities providing abortions will now bill Medicaid only for
acquisition costs and dispensing fees for prescription drugs.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin could lose roughly $4 million a year
as a result of this measure, depending on patient volume and the
type of birth control patients choose, organization spokeswoman Iris
Riis said.
The legislation singles out Planned Parenthood and is an attempt to
stop the organization from providing essential healthcare, the group
said.
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"The move was the latest in a long line of attacks by the Governor
and the Republican controlled state Legislature on the health of
Wisconsin women and families," the organization said in a statement.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has 22 health centers in the state,
three of which offer abortion services, according to its website.
Earlier this month, Ohio legislators approved a bill blocking state
and federal funds for groups that perform or promote abortions,
which cut $1.3 million annually used by Planned Parenthood clinics
for HIV testing, pre-natal care and other programs.
States including Alabama, Utah and Arkansas have fought losing court
battles over their plans to cut funding for local Planned Parenthood
operations.
(Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago and Jon Herskovitz in
Austin, Texas; Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Matthew Lewis)
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