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State officials, Planned Parenthood head to court Wednesday in battle over Medicaid funding

Medicaid payments in the state of Louisiana to Planned Parenthood are expected to end on Wednesday – the same day the state and the organization are set to be in court for a hearing.
Medicaid payments in the state of Louisiana to Planned Parenthood are expected to end on Wednesday – the same day the state and the organization are set to be in court for a hearing.
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State officials, Planned Parenthood head to court Wednesday in battle over Medicaid funding
Medicaid payments in the state of Louisiana to Planned Parenthood are expected to end on Wednesday – the same day the state and the organization are set to be in court for a hearing.Late Monday night, the organization filed a temporary restraining order against the state – or a statement of interest – that would block Gov. Bobby Jindal’s efforts.Watch report hereEarlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice told a federal judge that Jindal stopping Medicaid payments to the program violates a federal law. The DOJ said the administration has not offered "sufficient reasons" to block funding to Planned Parenthood clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.But the governor is citing a state law that allows cancellation of a Medicaid provider agreement with a 30-day noticeJindal directed Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate the group and vowed to cut funding after a series of videos surfaced a few months ago. The videos show people, believed to be top Planned Parenthood officials, discussing the sale of vital organs and tissue of unborn babies. The organization denies it profits in any way from the sale of fetal tissue.The DOJ said the state has not provided sufficient evidence that Planned Parenthood does not meet federally required Medicaid provider qualifications.

Medicaid payments in the state of Louisiana to Planned Parenthood are expected to end on Wednesday – the same day the state and the organization are set to be in court for a hearing.

Late Monday night, the organization filed a temporary restraining order against the state – or a statement of interest – that would block Gov. Bobby Jindal’s efforts.

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Watch report here

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice told a federal judge that Jindal stopping Medicaid payments to the program violates a federal law. The DOJ said the administration has not offered "sufficient reasons" to block funding to Planned Parenthood clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

But the governor is citing a state law that allows cancellation of a Medicaid provider agreement with a 30-day notice

Jindal directed Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate the group and vowed to cut funding after a series of videos surfaced a few months ago. The videos show people, believed to be top Planned Parenthood officials, discussing the sale of vital organs and tissue of unborn babies. The organization denies it profits in any way from the sale of fetal tissue.

The DOJ said the state has not provided sufficient evidence that Planned Parenthood does not meet federally required Medicaid provider qualifications.