Officials in Texas have served a final legal notice to Planned Parenthood stating that the non-profit organization will no longer be part of the state’s Medicaid funding program. The move to strike the organization from the program began last year after it was alleged that Planned Parenthood was harvesting fetal tissue.
In the notice, officials noted that Planned Parenthood had 30 days to submit an appeal. After this period, the organization will no longer receive funding from Medicaid. According to reports, Planned Parenthood had already received over $3 million in public insurance funding.
Texas pushed through with the move despite the Obama administration’s opposition to removing financial support for the organization.
According to the Texas Tribune, officials previously delivered a notice of intent to Planned Parenthood in October of last year. Back then, Republican Governor Greg Abbott and state health officials noted that the organization violated federal laws after videos of Planned Parenthood staff members allegedly discussing the act of harvesting fetal tissue emerged.
Although the videos were found to have been heavily edited, officials still maintained that the organization committed several billing violations.
In a statement, Inspector General Stuart Bowen of the Texas Health and Human Services noted that Planned Parenthood does not qualify to receive federal funding due to these violations.
“Your misconduct is directly related to whether you are qualified to provide medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manger,” he said. “Your actions violate generally accepted medical standards, as reflected in state federal law, and are Medicaid program violations that justify termination.”
Planned Parenthood responded to the final notice by denying the allegations made against them by state officials and anti-abortion groups. The organization is expected to submit an appeal within the next few days in an effort to repeal the move to cut its Medicaid funding.
