Twenty-eight members of the U.S. Senate signed a letter they released today to President Barack Obama’s Medicaid Administrator, Donald Berwick, defending Indiana’s ban on taxpayer funds going to abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood.
The letter outlines how Indiana’s law is consistent with the federal Medicaid statute, and defends the rights of states to manage their own Medicaid programs consistent with the wishes of their constituents. Recently, Berwick’s office issued a letter to Indiana threatening to cut off Medicaid funding if it follows through with enforcement of its new law de-funding Planned Parenthood and that letter went out to 49 other states threatening to revoke their Medicaid funding if they follow Indiana’s lead.
The letter, orchestrated by Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah and which LifeNews.com received, reads, “We disagree with your narrow interpretation of Title XIX of the Social Security Act and believe this represents a significant departure from Medicaid’s longstanding practice of having the states — not the federal government — set reasonable standards for qualified providers.”
“While the Indiana law does not change the family planning benefits offered to beneficiaries, it may change where certain services can be received — and with good reason,” the letter continues.
The letter cites a recent memorandum from the Indiana Attorney General filed for the state in its defense of the law from the lawsuit the Planned Parenthood abortion business filed against it. The letter indicates Planned Parenthood of Indiana mixes the federal and state taxpayer funding it receives with its other income and revenue in a way that co-mingles abortion funds with funds meant for family planning.
As a result, the letter says the Indiana law “closes a concerning loophole that has allowed taxpayer dollars to support operation costs for abortions” and places the state in better compliance with the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits direct taxpayer funding of abortions, except in very rare circumstances, under Medicaid.
“We ask for your swift reconsideration of Indiana’s SPA 11-110. Indiana’s proposal should not only be approved, we believe it serves as an important model for every state. We fully support the intent of HEA 1210 to prevent taxpayer dollars from subsidizing the operational costs of abortions; and more broadly, we support the right of states to administer their Medicaid programs in a manner consistent with the values and needs of their citizens,” the Senators wrote.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, applauded the letter in comments to LifeNews.
“These Senators reject the ideologically driven legal argument set forth by Secretary Sebelius and the Obama Administration,” she said. “So attached to abortion rights activism and their wealthiest abortion rights advocate and top political ally, Planned Parenthood, they are willing to jeopardize the healthcare of low income women. In enthusiastically backing then-candidate Obama, Planned Parenthood made only its second presidential endorsement in its history. Candidate Obama promised to make Planned Parenthood’s priorities his own, and this is President Obama following through.” [related]
“Indiana’s law says tax dollars can’t go to any entity that performs abortions, but benefits remain the same, as does healthcare access. In fact, there are approximately 800 provider locations in affected counties that are eligible to provide Medicaid clients with non-abortion services. This letter renews the call for the President and his Administration to stop strong-arming the states,” Dannenfesler added.
Catholic Advocate Vice President Matt Smith also chimed in, adding, “Hoosiers supported their General Assembly and Governor Daniels earlier this year when they prohibited their state tax dollars from funding Planned Parenthood.
He said, “The Indiana Congressional Delegation’s letter before the Obama administration’s decision was dismissed and today’s letter signed by 28 Senators to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will likely be treated the same. There is buyer’s remorse in Indiana and Hoosiers will not dismiss the Obama administration’s constant advocacy of abortion come next November.”
The Obama administration told the state it can’t implement the new law, with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick denying a request to deny funds saying the federal Medicaid law stipulates that states can’t exclude providers based on the services they provide. But Marcus Barlow, a spokesman for Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration, told National Journal Indiana would enforce the law, “The way the law was written, it went into effect the moment the governor signed it. We were just advised by our lawyers that we should continue to enforce Indiana law.”
Governor Mitch Daniels signed the law, which would cut off anywhere from $2 million to $3 million the Planned Parenthood abortion business receives in federal funds via the Indiana government through Medicaid.
The law also contains several pro-life provisions that directly affect abortion, such as banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on fetal pain and provisions to opt-out of abortion coverage in any state health exchanges required under the new federal health law, to require that women considering abortion be given full, factual information in writing, and to require doctors who do abortions, or their designees, to maintain local hospital admitting privileges in order to streamline access to emergency care for women injured by abortion.
Three pro-life legal groups have weighed in on the case — including the American Center for Law and Justice, Alliance Defense Fund and Thomas More Society — and they have said the law is constitutional.
In addition to Hatch, the following Senators signed the letter: Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), James Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Jim Moran (R-Kan.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).
The full letter reads:
Donald Berwick, Administrator
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201
We write with concern about your June 1, 2011 decision not to approve the State of Indiana’s Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 11-011 to limit funding to Medicaid providers that perform abortions or operate facilities where abortions are performed. We disagree with your narrow interpretation of Title XIX of the Social Security Act and believe this represents a significant departure from Medicaid’s longstanding practice of having the states – not the federal government – set reasonable standards for qualified providers. Unfortunately, your decision is simply the latest example of this Administration’s alarming pattern of usurping states’ authority to manage their Medicaid programs in ways that best meet the needs of their citizens.
As you may know, Indiana’s law HEA 1210, which was passed with bipartisan support by the Indiana General Assembly, prevents taxpayer dollars from being given to “any entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed” except licensed hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers. While the Indiana law does not change the family planning benefits offered to beneficiaries, it may change where certain services can be received – and with good reason. According to a recent legal memorandum filed by Indiana’s Attorney General, “[Planned Parenthood of Indiana’s] audited financial statements for 2009 and 2010 give rise to a reasonable inference that it commingles Medicaid reimbursements with other revenues it receives…” Indiana’s HEA 1210 effectively closes a concerning loophole that has allowed taxpayer dollars to support operational costs for abortions; and furthermore, HEA 1210 ensures full compliance with the longstanding federal policy of the Hyde Amendment. It is important to note that family planning providers, such as Planned Parenthood, in Indiana may receive Medicaid funds for family planning services, if they choose not to perform abortions.
Your recent letter to the State of Indiana noted that you cannot determine that Indiana’s SPA 11-011 is allowable under Section 1902(a)(23) of the Social Security Act, which provides that beneficiaries can obtain covered services from any qualified provider willing to provide such services. We disagree with your determination. Section 1902(a)(23) clearly states that providers must be “qualified to perform the service or services required,” and the federal regulations implementing this statute (42 C.F.R. section 431.51) allow states to set “reasonable standards relating to the qualifications of providers.” Furthermore, Section 1902(p)(1) of the Social Security Act infers that states may exclude certain providers for any reason. This is clear from this provision’s legislative history found in Senate Report 100-109 stating, “This provision is not intended to preclude a State from establishing, under State law, any other bases for excluding individuals or entities from its Medicaid program.” Additionally, the First Circuit found in First Medical Health Plan, Inc. v. Vega-Ramos that Section 1902(p)(1) “permit[s] a state to exclude an entity from its Medicaid program for any reason established by state law.” We believe that Indiana’s HEA 1210 and SPA 11-011, which sets reasonable standards for qualified family planning services providers to ensure no taxpayer funds are used for abortions, are clearly consistent with the letter and the spirit of Section 1902 of the Social Security Act. We hope this review of longstanding federal law and legal precedent is helpful to you.
Additionally, while we recognize that your reasons for denying SPA 11-110 did not include concerns about compliance with Section 1902(a)(30)(A), we do wish to highlight the fact that Indiana has taken steps to ensure “equal access” for Medicaid family planning services. We are advised that the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) believes that HEA 1210 will impact 21 counties in Indiana, but FSSA has identified approximately 800 qualified provider locations in those same counties where Medicaid patients may receive family planning services. Since hundreds of facilities will still offer these services, we believe that Indiana will continue to meet its obligation to provide care to the extent that such care is available to the general population in these affected geographic areas.
Finally, we are concerned about press reports indicating that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is considering cutting the entirety of Indiana’s federal Medicaid match over this issue. While the Obama Administration’s view on the appropriateness of sending taxpayer dollars to Medicaid providers that perform abortions may differ from the view of the State of Indiana, we trust that you will not jeopardize care for more than a million Hoosiers over this ideology. Given CMS’ recent informational bulletin issued to all states on this issue, we certainly hope that you are not actually considering jeopardizing care for the nation’s 70 million Medicaid beneficiaries over this ideological difference.
We ask for your swift reconsideration of Indiana’s SPA 11-110. Indiana’s proposal should not only be approved, we believe it serves as an important model for every state. We fully support the intent of HEA 1210 to prevent taxpayer dollars from subsidizing the operational costs of abortions; and more broadly, we support the right of states to administer their Medicaid programs in a manner consistent with the values and needs of their citizens.
