HHS rejects Indiana Medicaid plan ( which bans funding to Planned Parenthood)

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The Health and Human Services Department is telling the state of Indiana that its Medicaid plan, which bans funding to Planned Parenthood, is illegal and must be changed.

In a letter sent to Indiana's Medicaid director, and obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, Medicaid Administrator Donald M. Berwick says Indiana's plan will improperly bar Medicaid beneficiaries from receiving services. Berwick writes that federal law requires Medicaid beneficiaries to be able to obtain services from any provider qualified to provide services.

"Medicaid programs may not exclude qualified health care providers from providing services that are funded under the program because of a provider's scope of practice," Berwick wrote in a letter to Patricia Cassanova, the director of Indiana's office of Medicaid Policy and Planning. "Such a restriction would have a particular effect on beneficiaries' ability to access family planning providers."

(snip)
Indiana should change its plan to conform with federal law, or the state could face penalties, the letter said, noting that Indiana has 60 days to appeal. In the past, state Medicaid plans that did not conform with federal law have been changed by states before HHS enforced any penalties.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iVoHBDXdqzUoMEx5qsazDYO9nM6A?docId=8f774f0aec1d4a178360bd6ca96abcc6

[ClarkUSA]

1. The Obama administration comes through again for woman's choice.

:woohoo:

[nyy1998]

3. +1

[Metta]

2. Mazel freaking tov.

Let's see if the feds stick to their guns.