The Quickie: Oral Arguments Conclude in Meritless Case Against Planned Parenthood
For Immediate Release: Aug. 16, 2023
Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.
In today’s Quickie: Oral arguments conclude in lawsuit against Planned Parenthood, PA providers discuss the delicate state of abortion access, and GA advocates work to improve the state’s high maternal mortality rate.
ORAL ARGUMENTS CONCLUDE IN MERITLESS CASE AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Yesterday in Amarillo, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard oral arguments in a baseless lawsuit against Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the three Texas Planned Parenthood affiliates. The state of Texas and an anonymous plaintiff are suing Planned Parenthood for more than $1.8 billion, falsely alleging that the affiliates defrauded the state's Medicaid system by getting reimbursed for birth control, cancer screenings, and other basic health care services they legally provided. As the facts of the case and the oral arguments made clear, Planned Parenthood did not commit Medicaid fraud. Planned Parenthood did nothing wrong and absolutely followed the law. Susan Manning, General Counsel, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said after hearing:
“Today’s arguments made it clear that this is a baseless case that should go no further. Planned Parenthood organizations are nonprofits that follow the law and provide essential, life-saving health care to their patients. The plaintiffs’ only goal in this case is to achieve their decades-long goal of shutting down Planned Parenthood to advance a political agenda. We will never back down, and we hope the courts follow the facts and the law and issue a judgment in our favor.”
Read more about the case and its potential consequences for patients in Texas and beyond from the AP, Texas Tribune, Dallas Morning News, and Axios.
PROVIDERS, LAWMAKERS REMIND PENNSYLVANIANS HOW DELICATE ABORTION ACCESS IS: On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D) hosted a panel discussion with abortion providers and activists on the state of access in Pennsylvania. While abortion is legal in the state, there are restrictions in place, such as waiting periods and lack of Medicaid coverage for abortion care, that make it more difficult to expand access. Pennsylvania has also absorbed the impact of Ohio’s pending six-week abortion ban.
“We are really never safe, and I think it’s important that people know that,” Sydney Etheredge, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, told WESA. Etheredge, along with other Pennsylvania lawmakers and activists, support measures to open up more clinics in the state and across the region to better meet the demand of abortion care.
Read more in WESA.
GEORGIA AMONG THE WORST STATES FOR MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES: In Georgia, between 2018 and 2020, there were 113 pregnancy-related deaths up to one year postpartum. The state Maternal Mortality Review Commission found that 89% of these deaths were “at least somewhat preventable.” According to the MMRC report, Black women in Georgia were twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
While addressing maternal mortality is key, improving maternal health outcomes by reducing pregnancy complications is also essential. Lack of access to high-quality prenatal care contributes to this problem. Per the Georgia March of Dimes, 85 of 159 Georgia counties are maternity care deserts, with low or no obstetric care available.
Some state leaders are advocating for policies with the goal of improving maternal health outcomes in the state.
Read more in The Augusta Chronicle.