Planned Parenthood sues Texas, other Republican states over Medicaid de-funding

Planned Parenthood and several other women's health providers have filed a case on Texas and other Republican states over cutting Medicaid funds.

The suit filed in the federal court in Austin, Texas was in response against the cutting off of the budget for Medicaid patients.

The budget cut decision comes as a video of Planned Parenthood officials selling fetal tissues from aborted babies was released by anti-abortion groups.

"The gruesome harvesting of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood will not be allowed in Texas and the barbaric practice must be brought to an end," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott of the pending Medicaid de-funding. Texas wants to have Planned Parenthood removed from Medicaid by Dec. 8, ABC News reports.

In response to the video, the pro-abortion clinic stated that the videos and allegations are false as they do not profit from fetal tissues. The move was claimed to be politically motivated. The lawsuit was joined by some unnamed Planned Parenthood patients who say that they will lose access to healthcare services if the Medicaid funding is cut.

According to Planned Parenthood, physical exams, pregnancy testing and cancer screening exams would be greatly affected by the budget cut. Other republic states sued by the clinic are Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama. Those states have been successfully hindered from cutting off funding.

"By canceling Planned Parenthood's Medicaid contract, these politicians are telling women where they can and cannot go for reproductive healthcare. And let's be clear: That is illegal and it's a violation of federal law," said president Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, as reported by Reuters.

The Guardian reports that Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have been accused of "high rate of billing errors" by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin last week as a way to weaken the clinic. Other Republican governors stated by the outlet include Utah Governor Gary Herbert who attempted to cut the Medicaid budget for STD testing and reproductive health education.

Richards said in a statement that officials can't stop them from providing care for their patients including those of rape victims who have come to their door for their service.

"Officials who oppose women's access to reproductive healthcare may think they can bully us out of providing care for our patients, but we won't back down and we won't shut our doors," she said.

According to Reuters, Planned Parenthood receives $500 million from federal funding. The majority of the money comes from reimbursement through Medicaid, a health coverage program for Americans in low-income households.