Baker promises funding to offset any Planned Parenthood cuts

Governor Charlie Baker is pledging to boost state funding for Planned Parenthood clinics in Massachusetts if his fellow Republicans in Washington push ahead with a plan to slash the flow of federal dollars to the organization.

Massachusetts’ five Planned Parenthood clinics stand to lose a total of about $2 million a year, from a budget of $21.5 million, if the federal cuts take place. That money does not go directly from the government to Planned Parenthood; it is paid through Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that provides health coverage for low-income Americans.

The Republican proposal would effectively block Medicaid patients from receiving women’s health services such as cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and contraception from Planned Parenthood. Federal dollars are already restricted from being used to pay for abortions. But some Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, want to defund the nonprofit because it provides abortions.

“Governor Baker is a strong supporter of women’s health and believes the Commonwealth has a responsibility to ensure access to the important health care services offered by Planned Parenthood in all corners of our state,” Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton said in an e-mail. “The administration is prepared to fund these services should the federal government pursue changes that would block care for women and families here in Massachusetts.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/03/03/charlie-baker-promises-state-funding-offset-any-cuts-planned-parenthood/vRQVPpF3H7nPmbkct8kJeJ/story.html?p1=Article_Trending_Most_Viewed

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For this I have to applaud our Republican Governor Charlie Baker. Thank you.