WASHINGTON 鈥� President Donald Trump鈥檚 reversal of the Obama administration鈥檚 position on federal funding for family planning shows why a new Maryland law is so important, said Karen Nelson, Maryland Planned Parenthood鈥檚 president and CEO.
sets aside the measure barring state and local governments from denying federal funding to agencies that provide contraception and other reproductive health care services 鈥� regardless of whether those organizations provide abortions.
Last week, Maryland lawmakers passed HB 1083, first-of-its-kind legislation that would guarantee funding in case federal support for Planned Parenthood is withdrawn. That law, Nelson said, redirects $2 million from the state Medicaid budget and $700,000 from the state鈥檚 general fund to family planning services if it鈥檚 withdrawn.
鈥淲e came close to it, we came pretty darn close to it a couple of weeks ago鈥� said Nelson, referring to the GOP efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Other states may want to follow the state鈥檚 lead in coming up with funding, Nelson said, in case federal money for family planning services is withdrawn.
鈥淏ecause I think there鈥檚 going to be continued threats to Planned Parenthood funding. I don鈥檛 think this is going to stop,鈥� she said of efforts to pull funding from providers who offer family planning services.
Maryland HB 1083 was聽enacted without Gov. Larry Hogan鈥檚 signature.
