Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN)- A federal judge says she’ll try to rule within two weeks on whether Indiana can cut off Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood.
The Department of Health and Human Services has already told the state it can't exclude abortion providers and followed up with a letter to all 50 states warning them not to try it.
Planned Parenthood argues a state law can't preempt federal rules, especially when the government has made its interpretation so clear.
The state argues HHS issued its ruling before Indiana had a chance to present its rationale.
The state has until the end of July to file an administrative appeal.
Solicitor General Tom Fisher says the case doesn't belong in court until that appeal is decided and says even then, the state still has the option of deciding it's willing to forfeit federal funding.
Planned Parenthood is also challenging a requirement to tell patients a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks.
The organization doesn't perform abortions beyond 12 weeks.
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