Governor cuts off funds to Planned Parenthood in state

Local clinics received $139,000 for Arkansas Medicaid patients during 2014

Published: August 20, 2015

Gov. Asa Hutchinson directed the Department of Human Services to terminate its Medicaid provider contract with Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.

The termination would be in effect 30 days after the Aug. 14 letter.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor and other Church leaders have called for federal and state governments to no longer give funding to Planned Parenthood, in light of the release of undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue and organs from aborted fetuses for medical research. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion provider.

“It is apparent that after the recent revelations on the actions of Planned Parenthood, that this organization does not represent the values of the people of our state and Arkansas is better served by terminating any and all existing contracts with them,” the governor said. “This includes their affiliated organization, Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. I appreciate the legislature’s leadership on this important issue, especially that of Sen. Eddie Joe Williams and Rep. David Meeks.”

Arkansas is the fifth state to decide to terminate state contracts with Planned Parenthood, which operates clinics in Little Rock and Fayetteville. While the two clinics do not offer surgical abortions, they do provide drugs for chemical abortions.

Federal health officials have told other states that this termination could violate the law, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

In the 2014 fiscal year, Planned Parenthood received $139,456 in Medicaid payments in Arkansas for family planning and gynecological services, according to the Democrat-Gazette. Medicaid funds can only be used for abortions in the case of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.