In a move that drew criticism from Tennessee’s governor, the federal government plans to bypass the state’s health department and directly fund Planned Parenthood.
After the Human Life Protection Act took effect in August of 2022, ending the practice of abortion in Tennessee, Tennessee was denied Title X funding from the federal government.
That funding has “played a critical role in ensuring access to a broad range of family planning and preventive health services,” according to the Office of Population Affairs website, a branch of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Tennessee was denied that funding because its family planning clinics do not suggest abortion as an option for pregnant patients.
Now, in what has been labeled a “workaround,” $7.5 million in federal funds that were earmarked for Title X family planning for Tennessee will be given directly to Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi by the federal government.
The policy also means that Tennessee’s pregnancy centers will miss out on $7.5 million in federal funding, which would have been allocated via the state health department.
Gov. Bill Lee (R) slammed the decision on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The federal government withheld critical funding from TN families, so they could funnel taxpayer dollars to a radical political organization,” he said. “Some things should simply rise above politics—especially resources that TN mothers, children & families have counted on for decades.”
This is wrong on many levels, & the federal government should correct their mistake. In the meantime, TN will continue to fill the void & ensure families across our state receive the resources they need.https://t.co/bTQXYmIcDa
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) September 27, 2023
“This is wrong on many levels, & the federal government should correct their mistake. In the meantime, TN will continue to fill the void & ensure families across our state receive the resources they need,” he said.
Ashley Coffield, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, celebrated the news.
“We know how important this funding is for our patients to receive expanded access to quality, affordable care in our communities,” she reportedly said Coffield. “All people deserve access to birth control, STI testing and treatment and cancer screenings regardless of where they live or how much money they make.”
Abortion is still illegal in Tennessee, though there is an exception for “situations where the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of pregnant women or prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
Photo “Planned Parenthood Building” by Fibonacci Blue. CC BY 2.0.
Let’s be truthful, “Planned Parenthood” should be considered a “Federal Agency of the Biden Administration”.
One more Federal agency that should have never been created. This is not a function of government. If you need this much help in family planning your ability to raise children or function in a civil society is seriously in doubt.