SF 2 – Establishes a State Family Planning Services Program (Defunds Planned Parenthood)
COMMITTEE ACTION:
Senate File 2 directs the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to discontinue the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver effective July 1, 2017. The Medicaid Family Planning Waiver receives a 90/10 match from the federal government, which means the federal government picks up most of the cost; Iowa currently pays only 10 cents out of every dollar. Instead, the bill directs DHS to establish a state family planning services program that will be funded 100 percent with state money. The state-funded program will require a new administrative entity to prioritize providers through a tiered system that prohibits any providers that perform abortions from receiving any reimbursement through the program, even though no state funds currently go toward abortions. This bill reduces the total number of providers available and reduces access to health care. The bill also establishes more reporting requirements and increases administrative costs. The Branstad/Reynolds Administration and Republican legislators have publicly stated that the primary goal of this legislation is to deny funding to Planned Parenthood.
[1/31: 8-5 (party line)]