News and Stories: Planned Parenthood of Indiana Disappointed in Judge's Ruling

( Indianapolis ) – Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is deeply disappointed that U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt decided today not to grant PPIN's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent a measure from being enforced that prohibits the state's largest reproductive health care organization from receiving federal funds.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana (ACLU of Indiana) filed for an injunction and temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court on behalf of Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) and its patients as soon as Governor Daniels signed HEA 1210 on Tuesday afternoon. The law bars the state from entering into contracts with, or granting to, any entities (other than hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers) that provide abortions. PPIN is also being assisted by attorneys from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).

"We are deeply disappointed that the judge decided not to stop this unconscionable law from impacting Hoosiers seeking preventive, reproductive health care," said PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum . "The ruling means that Hoosiers who rely on federal funding have lost access to their crucial and lifesaving preventive health care at Planned Parenthood of Indiana."

The state contends there are other options for Medicaid patients seeking care and issued a list of Medicaid providers across the state. However, it is unclear how many of those providers actually offer the same family planning services as Planned Parenthood and whether they are even accepting new Medicaid clients.

During the initial hearing, the state agreed that the new law would not apply to Title V and Title XX federal family planning funds. PPIN's attorneys had already concluded that Title X funding was not covered by the legislation.

"The court's ruling today means that 9,300 Medicaid patients at our 28 locations have lost services from their preferred provider," said Cockrum.

In addition, Planned Parenthood will have to stop providing disease intervention services to hundreds of women and men in 22 counties. PPIN currently provides those services through staff based in its Lafayette and Muncie health centers by following up with individuals who have tested positive for an STD or HIV and by contacting their partners who could be unknowingly carrying a disease.

Despite the denial of the temporary restraining order, the court must still rule on the larger issues in the case and the request for an injunction. The hearing on the injunction is set for June 6, 2011.

The ACLU of Indiana believes HEA 1210 deprives Medicaid patients of their preferred health care provider – a clear violation of federal law. It also denies PPIN contracts and grants involving federal money solely because it provides a constitutionally-protected procedure. Finally, it would force PPIN's health care professionals to make statements to patients that are not medically and scientifically based – further violating the U.S. Constitution.