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Planned Parenthood to Defy Trump Abortion Referral Rule

Associated Press

   Federally funded family planning clinics, including Planned Parenthood,
   are defying the Trump administration's ban on referring women for
   abortions, drawing a line against what they say amounts to keeping
   patients in the dark about legitimate health care options.

   "We are not going to comply with a regulation that would require health
   care providers to not give full information to their patients,"
   Jacqueline Ayers, the group's top lobbyist, said in an interview
   Tuesday. "We believe as a health care provider it is wrong to withhold
   health care information from patients."

   The fallout from the confrontation between the Trump administration and
   the clinics remains to be seen, but groups like the American Medical
   Association have been warning that many low-income women could lose
   access to basic services like contraception. Planned Parenthood's
   announcement came on a day when it also replaced its president,
   although it's unclear if there was any connection.

   The Department of Health and Human Services formally notified the
   clinics Monday that it will begin enforcing the new regulation banning
   abortion referrals, along with a requirement that clinics maintain
   separate finances from facilities that provide abortions. The rule is
   being challenged in federal court, but the administration says there is
   currently no legal obstacle to enforcing it.

   It's part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to remake
   government policy on reproductive health.

   In a statement, HHS did not address Planned Parenthood's decision, but
   said the agency is committed to working with clinics so they can comply
   with the new rules. While abortion referrals are prohibited, HHS noted
   that clinicians can still offer neutral "nondirective counseling" on
   abortion.

   With about 400 affiliated clinics, Planned Parenthood is the largest
   provider in the federal family planning program for low-income women,
   known as Title X. The program does not pay for abortions, but until now
   clinics had been able to refer women for the procedure. Planned
   Parenthood clinics have long been a target for religious and social
   conservatives closely allied with the administration because the
   clinics separately provide abortions.

   Emergency funding

   Planned Parenthood acted after its Illinois affiliate and an
   independent provider, Maine Family Planning, announced they were
   dropping out of the federal program. Planned Parenthood also abruptly
   announced the departure of its president, physician Leana Wen, who
   cited "philosophical differences" in a letter to the staff. Political
   organizer Alexis McGill Johnson was named as acting president.

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