Louisiana is terminating the state’s Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Monday.
“In recent weeks, it has been shocking to see reports of the alleged activities taking place at Planned Parenthood facilities across the country. Planned Parenthood does not represent the values of the people of Louisiana and shows a fundamental disrespect for human life,” Jindal said in a statement. “It has become clear that this is not an organization that is worthy of receiving public assistance from the state.”
Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana and Republican 2016 presidential candidate, speaks during the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, July 18, 2015. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Louisiana is among at least nine states across the country that have opened up investigations into Planned Parenthood after an anti-abortion group released several videos seemingly showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of aborted fetal tissue for research.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals informed Planned Parenthood that is terminating the group’s Medicaid provider agreement.
On the day of the first video's release, Jindal, a candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, announced the state would be investigating Planned Parenthood.
Though the investigation continues, under the Medicaid provider contract between the state and Planned Parenthood, either party can choose to cancel the contract at will after providing written notice, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Jindal and the Department of Health and Hospitals is giving the required 30-day notice for termination, but reserves the right to terminate the contract immediately if the investigation provides reason before the 30 days has expired.
The state DHH is probing whether Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, is acting in violation of Louisiana law that states that no person or group contracting with the state or receiving government assistance shall require or recommend that any woman have an abortion.
Republican presidential candidates are calling for an end to federal funding of Planned Parenthood, which is supported by Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas.
Meanwhile, other incumbent Republican governors – Scott Walker of Wisconsin, John Kasich of Ohio and Chris Christie of New Jersey – have pointed to their records on Planned Parenthood funding,
