The War-On-Women: Planned Parenthood Cuts

We are now well over a month into Indiana defunding Planned Parenthood. More specifically, Republican Governor Mitch Daniels signed a bill that made Indiana the first state to cut off all government funding for Planned Parenthood. He of course, argued that the services Planned Parenthood provides – including women’s health and family planning services, would remain available through other providers.

The law is under challenge, and next week a federal judge will decide whether to suspend enforcement until such time. In the meantime:

Planned Parenthood of Indiana began cutting back services today and will shut eight clinics this week as a state law cutting off funding takes effect, The Indianapolis Star reports.

The tough anti-abortion law, which cuts off Medicaid funding to the clinics, took effect in mid-May, but the organization has been able to stay open until this week through donations.

The law effectively strips about 10% of the group's total budget. It also cut roughly $150,000 in funding to Planned Parenthood for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, The Star says.

The newspaper says 85,000 Hoosiers receive health services at the state's 28 Planned Parenthood centers. Eight of those will close, including two in Indianapolis and clinics in Terre Haute and Muncie.

Planned Parenthood uses its Medicaid payments to provide services such as birth control, cancer screening and STD tests and uses patient fees and private donations to pay for abortions.

Needless to say, other states have either passed or are considering similar laws. Wisconsin. Kansas. North Carolina. Maybe Minnesota.

Make no mistake about – this is not about access to abortion.  It is about denying low-income women (and many women, if they continue to have their way) access to affordable health care.  And it's contagious.