For decades, the GOP has had Planned Parenthood in its sights for destruction. Finally, after years of threats, the Republicans in Congress have successfully landed a blow that just may destroy all that Planned Parenthood has worked for.
In the recently passed budget bill, Republicans have targeted Planned Parenthood’s funding. Though the bill doesn’t mention Planned Parenthood by name, it does cut all Medicaid funding to any healthcare organization that mainly deals with reproductive health and family planning.
Republicans have claimed that Planned Parenthood has no right to accept Medicaid funds because it provides abortions to women around the country. To these socially conservative Republicans, Medicaid money shouldn’t be going to abortions. However, supporters of Planned Parenthood have pointed out that women go to these facilities for many other reproductive health issues, such as for birth control, prenatal care, pap smears, and STD testing.
Republicans don’t seem to care about this at all.
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Planned Parenthood Has Already Been Affected by the GOP Bill
Unfortunately, this budget bill has already impacted Planned Parenthood’s operations. At least two affiliates of the company — a Planned Parenthood in Washington, DC, and one in the Rocky Mountains — have put up notices on their websites stating that they will no longer accept Medicaid. Advocates warn that more facilities may soon follow suit, as they have no choice.
Republicans have long wanted to completely end abortions throughout the United States. So far, they’ve been remarkably successful. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which ended the right to abortion, various states illegalized abortion. These laws have greatly hurt women and have resulted in countless preventable deaths.
Of course, advocates of abortion have long warned that this would happen. When Republicans go after abortion access, they go after all forms of reproductive health. For example, pregnant women looking to start their families have suffered under abortion bans if they’ve had miscarriages, as doctors are scared to treat them, lest they suffer legal reprimands for conducting a medical procedure similar to abortion procedures on patients suffering from a miscarriage.
The same can be seen in this defunding of Planned Parenthood. So many women go to these facilities around the country for nothing to do with abortions. However, now they could suffer — and the GOP doesn’t seem to recognize, or care, about this at all.
Will These Funding Cuts Last?
While the cuts are clearly already affecting Planned Parenthood operations around the country, there is some hope that the legal justice system in the U.S. could halt what the Republicans have done.
Quickly after the bill was passed by Congress, Planned Parenthood sued, pointing out that they are being directly targeted in this bill. A federal judge agreed and temporarily blocked the government from fully cutting funding to these facilities.
However, this hasn’t stopped some Planned Parenthoods from claiming that they can no longer accept Medicaid patients. Plus, the order will only remain in effect for 14 days. Once these days are up, the judge will decide whether to pursue this court case or not.
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