Should States be able to Prevent Medicaid Funding From Going to Abortion Providers? (H.R. 3495)

What is H.R. 3495?

(Updated April 18, 2021)

This bill would give states the flexibility to not provide assistance through Medicaid for services at entities that are involved in providing abortions as a part of their state plan for medical assistance.

Under current law, state plans for medical assistance must allow any individual eligible for assistance through Medicaid to obtain services from any institution, agency, or person that is qualified to perform them.

Argument in favor

States shouldn’t be forced to allow the use of Medicaid funding at abortion providers, and need the flexibility to deny the use of funding for those services.

Argument opposed

Medicaid funding should be used by its recipients wherever its needed, including at abortion providers. States have no business attempting to cut off this funding.

Impact

Abortion providers and people who might use their services, states, and the federal government.

Cost of H.R. 3495

The CBO estimates that this legislation would reduce spending by $4 million over the 2016-2025 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: In the wake of the Planned Parenthood video controversy, there are five states that have revoked funding for its abortion business, while a sixth is considering doing the same. Planned Parenthood and the Obama administration have pushed back against these actions claiming that states

Of Note: While Planned Parenthood often finds itself in the news because of the abortion services they offer — abortions are just a fraction of what they do. From cancer screenings, to HIV tests, STI testing, to sex education, and family counseling, Planned Parenthood has a wide range of services.

In mid-July, 2015, undercover videos shot by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) were released, claiming to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of the organs and tissue of aborted fetuses. CMP claims that the:

"criminal conspiracy to make money off of aborted baby parts reaches to the very highest levels of their organization. Elected officials must listen to the public outcry for Planned Parenthood to be held accountable to the law and for our tax dollars to stop underwriting this barbaric abortion business.”

Planned Parenthood has countered that tissue donations for scientific research do happen, but that reimbursements are only for their expenses. From CNN: "The group also says it helps people donate tissue "with full, appropriate consent from patients and under the highest  ethical and legal standards," according to a statement from spokesman Eric Ferrero. Later, Ferrero issued another statement saying:

"These outrageous claims are flat-out untrue, but that doesn't matter to politicians with a longstanding political agenda to ban abortion and defund Planned Parenthood. Women and families who make the decision to donate fetal tissue for lifesaving scientific research should be honored, not attacked and demeaned."

Media:

• CBO Cost Estimate
• LifeNews (In Favor)
• National Right to Life Council (In Favor)
• Daily Kos (Opposed)