Judge again blocks Texas from kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid

AUSTIN -- A federal judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction blocking Texas from kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state's Medicaid program.

Judge Sam Sparks said in his ruling that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) could not take action until after a full trial.

"After reviewing the evidence currently in the record, the court finds the Inspector General, and thus HHSC, likely acted to disenroll qualified health care providers from Medicaid without cause," Sparks wrote. "Such action would deprive Medicaid patients of their statutory right to obtain health care from their chosen qualified provider. The deprivation of that right is an irreparable injury in and of itself but could also disrupt the care of the 12,500 Texas Medicaid patients receiving services from Planned Parenthood."

The ruling continues a long-running saga over the state's attempt to remove Planned Parenthood.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Judge-again-blocks-Texas-from-kicking-Planned-10949078.php