Progressive Charlestown: What "defunding Planned Parenthood" really means

EDITOR'S NOTE: in order to "defund" Planned Parenthood, as Republican members of Congress and the Trump team seem determined to do, they would have to change Medicaid to ban payment for women's health services - e.g. tests like Pap smears, contraception - or abolish Medicaid outright. - W. Collette

How Federal Tax Dollars Support Planned Parenthood Patients

There is no line-item in the federal budget that goes to Planned Parenthood. Instead, most federal dollars go through Planned Parenthood via Medicaid reimbursements. Here's a patient example of how it works:

Casey has Medicaid coverage and comes to their local Planned Parenthood health center for preventive care.



			Casey gets birth control, an STD test, Pap test, or other care (likely at no cost).

			The Planned Parenthood health center submits a claim to Medicaid for the care provided (just like it would with any other insurance).

			Medicaid reimburses the Planned Parenthood health center for their services provided.

			The state Medicaid agency sends a bill to the federal government for all Medicaid reimbursements made to providers statewide, and the federal government reimburses the state for part of the costs.