WASHINGTON (AP) — The Health and Human Services Department rejected changes
in Indiana’s Medicaid plan Wednesday, saying it illegally bans funding for
Planned Parenthood, and sought to make clear that a similar fate awaits
other states that pass legislation barring any qualified health care
provider.
State officials signaled they would not accept HHS’ decision.
In a letter sent to Indiana’s Medicaid director, Medicaid Administrator
Donald M. Berwick said Indiana’s plan will improperly bar beneficiaries from
receiving services. Federal law requires Medicaid beneficiaries to be able
to obtain services from any qualified provider.
“Medicaid programs may not exclude qualified health care providers from
providing services that are funded under the program because of a provider’s
scope of practice,” Berwick wrote in a letter to Patricia Cassanova, the
director of Indiana’s office of Medicaid Policy and Planning. “Such a
restriction would have a particular effect on beneficiaries’ ability to
access family planning providers.”
Indiana’s law bars Planned Parenthood offices in the state from receiving
federal money because it provides abortions, among other services.
Marcus Barlow, a spokesman for Indiana’s Family and Social Services
Administration, said the state’s attorneys have told his department that it
must continue to comply with the law passed by the Indiana General Assembly.
“We will seek guidance from the Indiana attorney general on how to proceed
forward,” he said.
Bryan Corbin, a spokesman for Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, said
the letter was being reviewed to determine the state’s options but that “we
will continue to defend the statute.”
Berwick writes in his letter that Indiana should change its plan to conform
with federal law, noting that the state has 60 days to appeal. The letter
does not state it explicitly, but Indiana could face penalties if it does
not comply. In the past, state Medicaid plans that did not conform with
federal law have been changed by states before HHS enforced any penalties.
In addition to Berwick’s letter, HHS also posted a notice on Wednesday to
other interested parties that sought to make clear that the department would
take a dim view of similar efforts to ban specific providers from federal
funds.
Indiana Republicans who worked to pass the ban were quick to denounce HHS’
decision.
“Indiana’s on solid legal ground,” said state Sen. Scott Schneider, an
Indianapolis Republican who sponsored the measure to strip Planned
Parenthood’s funding. “There’s no reason for us to change course at this
time. It’s up to them to prove that this is not legal.”
Schneider added, “I’m extremely disappointed. I would take issue at their
interpretation of the law.”
Indiana officials should have expected the proposed changes to the state’s
Medicaid plan would be rejected, Berwick wrote.
“We assume this decision is not unexpected,” Berwick wrote. “As the Indiana
Legislative Services Agency indicated in its April 19, 2011, fiscal impact
statement, ‘While states are permitted to waive a recipient’s freedom of
choice of a provider to implement managed care, restricting freedom of
choice with respect to providers of family planning services is
prohibited.’”
The HHS notice, written by Cindy Mann, the director of the Center for
Medicaid, CHIP and Survey & Certification, emphasizes that states may bar
providers from participating in Medicaid in certain circumstances, such as
if a provider is committing fraud or criminal acts.
“States are not, however, permitted to exclude providers from the program
solely on the basis of the range of medical services they provide,” Mann
wrote.
Medicaid is a federal-state partnership that nationwide now covers more than
60 million low-income children and parents, seniors, including most nursing
home residents, and disabled people of any age.
Federal law prohibits using any federal funds, including Medicaid funding,
to provide abortions. While Planned Parenthood provides abortion services,
it also provides other services such as preventative care, cancer
screenings, and family planning and is eligible to receive Medicaid funding
for its other services.
Planned Parenthood operates 28 clinics in Indiana, four of which perform
abortions. The state chapter has said federal funding makes up about 20
percent of its annual budget.
Betty Cockrum, Planned Parenthood of Indiana’s president and CEO, said HHS’
letter was “gratifying.”
“It is right that the federal government take action against Indiana and set
an example for other states seeking to adopt this type of harmful
legislation,” she said. “This new law is already preventing Planned
Parenthood of Indiana Medicaid patients from receiving some services.”
In recent days, HHS has come under lobbying from both Democrats and
Republicans on the issue. Last week, a group of Democratic senators called
on HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to inform Indiana that its ban didn’t
comply with federal law.
In response,
eight Republican members of Indiana’s congressional delegation sent Sebelius
a letter calling on her to support the state’s law.
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Posted 6/2/2011