States Move Ahead with Restrictions on Family Planning Funds

NFPRHA is tracking with concern new state restrictions on family planning funds, with two bills signed into law just last week. In Idaho on May 10, Governor Brad Little (R) signed into law House Bill 220, which bars the state from contracting with any entity that offers or refers for abortion care and bars all local and state officials, including staff of school-based health clinics, from providing or referring for abortion care. The law further prohibits publicly funded schools and universities from dispensing emergency contraception. Of note, the law does carve out hospitals and all funds related to Medicaid but would apply to Title X subrecipients and service sites.

Then, in Montana on May 14, Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed into law House Bill 620, which bars the Department of Public Health & Human Services from funding any entity that provides abortion care, including hospitals, for any reason. It also targets Title X specifically by creating a new tiering requirement for state distribution of Title X funds and declares that referring for abortions is not part of family planning care. The law may also threaten access to abortion coverage for people enrolled in Medicaid in the state. For both states, it is important to note that if the Biden administration’s proposed Title X rules go into effect, abortion referrals will remain available at Title X-funded health centers in those states, as federal regulations supersede state laws.

NFPRHA is also tracking debate on a Missouri bill related to Medicaid reimbursement that has been the subject of numerous anti-abortion and anti-family planning amendments during the legislative session. Work on the bill will be continuing into a to-be-scheduled special session. NFPRHA member Missouri Family Health Coalition is leading statewide advocacy efforts to protect against these harmful provisions.

For questions about state legislative matters, please contact Lauren Weiss, Director, Policy & Communications, at lweiss@nfprha.org.