Texas terminates funding for Planned Parenthood in light of numerous scandals

Texas has informed Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast today of its plan to remove its affiliates entirely from the state’s Medicaid program, in part because of what has come to light in the recent undercover videos from the Center for Medical Progress.

The Houston Chronicle reports:

In a letter to be sent to state Planned Parenthood affiliates on Monday, officials say they made their decision because a video released earlier this summer showed that the women’s health organization alters its abortion process to preserve fetal organs and allows private citizens into its lab wearing only gloves.

The private citizens allowed into the lab were the secret videographers, who were actors posing as people trying to buy fetal tissue for medical research.

“The State has determined that you and your Planned Parenthood affiliates are no longer capable of performing medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manner,” writes Stuart Bowen, the inspector general of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The Chronicle notes that this would be “a major blow” to the abortion giant.

Mr. Bowen’s strongly-worded letter mentions that the organization’s history of defrauding taxpayers through illegal billing practices is also a reason for the termination of contract. He writes:

… [T]here is reliable information indicating a pattern of illegal billing practices by Planned Parenthood affiliates, including you, across the State.

Our prima facie case of fraud is supported by related cases involving fraudulent practices identified by Whistleblowers from inside the Texas Planned Parenthood network. These Whistleblowers alleged in federal court that Planned Parenthood encourages employees to knowingly file false claims.

Read Mr. Bowen’s entire letter to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast below:

Texas to cut Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid