DOJ backs Planned Parenthood in lawsuit

The Department of Justice is backing Planned Parenthood in its lawsuit against Louisiana for seeking to defund the organization. 

{mosads}The DOJ filed a brief in federal court in Louisiana supporting Planned Parenthood’s argument that cutting off state Medicaid funds for the organization violates federal law that beneficiaries may obtain services from any qualified provider willing to take them. 

The move is the latest volley in the battle over Planned Parenthood, set off with the release of a series of undercover videos showing organization officials candidly discussing the price of fetal tissue for medical research. Planned Parenthood denies wrongdoing and says the payment is legal compensation for expenses, not profit. 

The filing comes ahead of a court hearing on Wednesday in the case. 

“Louisiana has not proffered sufficient reasons to terminate Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc. (‘PPGC’) from its Medicaid program,” the DOJ says in the brief. “Terminating PPGC from its Medicaid program without providing any justification related to PPGC’s qualifications to provide medical services would violate Louisiana’s obligations under the Medicaid statute’s ‘free choice of provider’ provision.”

When Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) announced last month that Planned Parenthood would be cut out of the Medicaid program, he cited the state’s contract allowing cancellation at will. However, the DOJ says the contract does not override federal law. 

Alabama and Arkansas have also sought to cut Planned Parenthood out of their Medicaid programs. 

Jindal, who is running for president but far down in the polls, seized on the DOJ’s filing in a statement on his campaign website Tuesday. 

“President Obama is so committed to protecting Planned Parenthood’s baby harvesting operation that he sent his lawyers from the Department of Justice all the way to Baton Rouge to sue me and try to stop us from canceling these contracts,” he said. 

The White House has defended Planned Parenthood, saying it follows the “highest ethical standards.” The DOJ move also comes after the Department of Health and Human Services warned Louisiana that it was violating the law. 

Planned Parenthood is signaling that is not hesitating in going to court. It also announced Tuesday that it is suing Ohio to challenge policies over the last two years that it says have caused five health centers to close.