new rule proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services would prohibit states from declining to fund certain health-care entities; if enacted, the rule will effectively prevent states from defunding groups on the grounds that they provide abortions. The money in question is Title X funding, federal money granted to states specifically for family-planning services. Prior to this rule, state governments have maintained the authority to use their own methods and criteria in deciding how to disburse Title X funds to family-planning institutions. Now, the federal government is seeking to prevent states from distributing federal money “using criteria in their selection of subrecipients that are unrelated to the ability to deliver services to program beneficiaries in an effective manner.” Under this formulation, it would be nearly impossible for states to discriminate at all between entities receiving funding. In fact, it is plausible that the only discrimination permitted would be against crisis pregnancy centers, which could be deemed undeserving of funds because they don’t provide “family-planning services” such as abortion and contraception. – READ MORE
