Texas Democrats in Congress request federal relief in Planned Parenthood fight over Medicaid

Texas Democrats in Congress request federal relief in Planned Parenthood fight over Medicaid

AUSTIN–Texas Democrats in Congress sent a letter to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services this month asking that they “explore all options available at the federal level”...

“Members of the delegation understand that there is a precedent for intervention, and several options available for the federal government to bring Texas into compliance with federal law,” said Congressman Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth. “In the past, CMS has decreased or removed federal funding from Texas, which we do not want to happen again as doing so would decrease access to care instead of expanding it.”

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The congressional members, including Fort Worth’s Marc Veasey, asked Lynch to investigate Ahmed’s treatment when he was detained by the Irving ISD and police.

Veasey hopes the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services intervenes before litigation is necessary, saying potentially costly and lengthy court action “places the access to care of thousands of women in limbo.”

“While the state may not have formally cut this funding, many women across the state are under the impression that the state has done so,” Veasey said.