Texas officials informed Planned Parenthood yesterday of their decision to remove it from the state’s Medicaid program, stating that they reached their decision following revelations that Planned Parenthood – and specifically their Houston affiliate, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast – is involved in an illegal baby body parts harvesting operation, and that the organization has a history of defrauding taxpayers.
Rather than understanding that the citizens of Texas should not be forking over hard-earned tax monies to an organization embroiled in illegalities, the media is attempting to paint Planned Parenthood as a victim. And, although there are thousands of options for women’s healthcare in the state of Texas besides Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla called the move by Texas “politically motivated.” Planned Parenthood is no victim, and the revocation of Planned Parenthood’s $3.05 million in Medicaid funds will not hurt women. Here’s why…
Investigators from the Center for Medical Progress, posing as buyers for a biotech company, captured undercover conversations with the Director of Research for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Melissa Farrell. Farrell was recorded offering intact fetal cadavers for research as a “matter of line items.”
Melissa Farrell of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
In addition to mentioning the CMP video, the letter from Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s Inspector General, Stuart Bowen, tells Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast that his office has information suggesting that “fraud and other related program violations have been committed by a number of Planned Parenthood affiliates enrolled in the Medicaid program in Texas, including you.”
The letter also states that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is “liable directly, or by affiliation for a series of serious Medicaid program violations,” and that Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state are, “no longer capable of performing medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manner.”
The letter details cases where Planned Parenthood’s credibility as a Medicaid provider for the state was called into question – and it was long before the release of undercover videos:
In Reynolds, a Planned Parenthood Whistleblower alleged sufficient evidence of fraud to assure the federal court handling the matter that the case was worth pursuing, after which Planned Parenthood promptly settled the lawsuit for $4.3 million. Furthermore, when the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the 2013 settlement in Reynolds, it openly and compellingly criticized PPGC for “abuse of programs that are extremely important to the well-being of many American women.” Further, the DOJ was “particularly grateful to the Whistleblower” who came forward for revealing that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast had billed the Texas Medicaid program, Title XX, and the Women’s Health Program “for items and services that were either medically unnecessary or were never actually provided.”
In the 2013 case mentioned in the letter, the state had accused Planned Parenthood of submitting more than $30 million in fraudulent bills for reimbursement between 2003 and 2009.
In addition to the Reynolds case, in 2014, another whistle-blower, Patricia Carroll, alleged that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast defrauded Medicaid with regard to blood tests performed on Texas teens. Carroll served for several years as the accounts receivable manager for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. Her complaint stated that she noticed “a large revenue increase” of 314.76% for a Planned Parenthood clinic in Huntsville while preparing the monthly projection report.
While the media publishes Planned Parenthood’s faux outrage, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast is hardly lacking financially. According to the organization’s most recent 990 report, the Houston abortion giant netted over $43 million dollars in assets by the end of 2013. In addition, 10 out of 11 officers or staff listed on the Planned Parenthood report made a hefty six digit salary.
PPGC’s statement of revenue shows $8,941,664 in total revenue that year which included $920,368 in government grants and $7,577,972 in contributions, gifts, and other grants. And between 2009 and 2013, PPGC reported receiving $30,830,0483 in gifts, grants or contributions earning a whopping $3,603,781 in interest, dividends, and other investment income.
In other words, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast alone potentially earns as much revenue in interest as the amount the state of Texas is revoking through its Medicaid program.
So, when Planned Parenthood claims that women will be hurt because of the dollars the taxpayers will no longer have to pay them through Medicaid, they are, as usual, misleading the public.
