New Senate Bill would Let States Opt out of Medicaid Payments for Abortion

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)

A new Senate Bill would allow states to exclude abortion businesses from receiving Medicaid payments. States are currently required to allow all qualified medical providers to participate in the state's Medicaid program and receive payments.

On Sept. 23, Oklahoma Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) proposed S. 4658, dubbed the Women’s Public Health and Safety Act. If passed, this would give states the power to use their discretion regarding whether to allow abortion businesses to take Medicaid payments.

“Abortion isn’t about healthcare and taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to support the largest abortion providers in the country under the guise of women’s healthcare,” Lankford said in a press release. “This bill allows states to ensure that tax dollars support the thousands of health care providers without the worry that tax dollars will also contribute to abortion services at organizations like Planned Parenthood. We can simultaneously stand for the unborn while also supporting fundamental, quality health services for women everywhere.”

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