Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
(UNDATED) - Planned Parenthood of Indiana is making cuts in services and staff until a judge rules on the constitutionality of a law that blocks Medicaid funding for the organization.
CEO Betty Cockrum says a filing on the case by the U.S. Justice Department caused the state to ask for more time on the case.
The U.S. District Court has until noon on July 1st to render a decision.
Until then, Planned Parenthood will stop seeing Medicaid patients that can't pay out-of-pocket.
The agency will also off two employees until further notice and institute a one-day furlough for all other employees.
Although patients have the option to seek out another Medicaid provider, Cockrum says circumstances are making that difficult. Planned Parenthood services 9300 Medicaid patients a year.
If the court rules in their favor Cockrum says the agency will work to get patients and laid off employees back in the offices as quickly as possible.
Cockrum says of the court rules against them, the agency will meet for a final analysis of the entire operation and determine how quickly they would need to close up to 8 health centers and have a reduction in staff.
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