Planned Parenthood Files Suit To Regain State Funding

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland filed a lawsuit Friday morning to overturn Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s order canceling its contracts with the state to provide services to Medicaid patients. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Hutchinson’s decision, which takes effect Monday.

The case was filed on behalf of three anonymous Medicaid patients in Eastern District Judge Kristine Baker’s court. John Selig, director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, is listed as the defendant.

Suzanna de Baca, president and CEO of the four-state Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, said federal law prohibits excluding any qualified Medicaid provider.

Hutchinson released a statement afterwards saying, “This is no surprise. We will review the lawsuit and respond appropriately. Notwithstanding the lawsuit, I remain satisfied that we did the right thing to reflect Arkansas’ values.”

The state last year reimbursed the organization $139,456.11 for family planning, pharmacy and gynecological services but not for abortions. Planned Parenthood performs chemical abortions at its locations in Little Rock and Fayetteville.

On Aug. 14, Hutchinson cancelled the state’s agreements with Planned Parenthood after the Center for Medical Progress released a series of undercover videos showing members of the national Planned Parenthood organization discussing selling aborted fetal tissue.

Planned Parenthood supporters also handed a petition to Hutchinson’s office with 927 signatures asking for funding to be restored.

de Baca said the organization last year provided care to 4,000 patients, 99 percent of whom needed contraception and supplies. One in four of those patients are on Medicaid. The clinics performed 372 cervical cancer screenings, 522 breast exams, and 2,559 tests for sexually transmitted infections. Of its patients, 321 were males.

de Baca pointed to Arkansas’ high rate of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases as evidence of the need for the organization’s services.

Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, said that Hutchinson had publicly expressed support following the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing gay marriage nationwide despite his personal opposition. This is no different, she said.

“There is no need and no good reason to play politics with this issue,” she said. “It is very, very possible to be a politician and have the courage to do the right thing, especially in the face of the law.”

Hannah Rudeki, a second-year medical student at UAMS, said she had been a patient at a Planned Parenthood clinic in college. Her insurance plan through her religiously affiliated school didn’t provide contraception, and her school’s clinic didn’t provide counseling. She said the staff had treated her well.

Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, said in an interview that Planned Parenthood provides services to poor women and in minority and college communities “to build a customer base for abortion services.”

The lawsuit, she said, “is typical of Planned Parenthood. This is what they do. They file lawsuits whether it’s a pro-life law to protect minors, to get parental involvement for a minor’s abortion or whatever it is. They challenge pro-life laws. They challenge any kind of action that’s taken to prevent them from selling abortions, which is what they do.”

In response, Susan Allen, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland director of marketing and communications, said her organization provides services for unmet needs.

“No one does more than Planned Parenthood to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion,” she wrote in an email. “Planned Parenthood of the Heartland’s mission is to provide, promote and protect reproductive and sexual health through health services, education and advocacy. Our goal is to provide compassionate, high-quality and affordable patient-centered care to everyone who needs access to these services, regardless of ability to pay.”