Abortion providers eligible for federal funds again after Biden administration issues new rule

Washington DC - The Biden administration released a final rule Monday that would make organizations providing abortions or abortion referrals eligible for federal family planning money again.

Planned Parenthood is among the organizations that could now be eligible for federal family planning grants again.
Planned Parenthood is among the organizations that could now be eligible for federal family planning grants again.  © IMAGO / NurPhoto

The move, which would help groups like Planned Parenthood, comes among a flurry of other action on abortion policy following two congressional hearings last week inspired by a Texas law banning nearly all abortions.

The Texas Supreme Court announced Monday that it would not grant an emergency request to block the abortion ban.

The final rule, which will take effect on November 8, would change how Title X, the nation’s federal family planning program, administers grants to states, clinics, and other organizations that provide reproductive services. It was first proposed in April.

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The Trump administration finalized a regulation in 2019 barring Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide or refer for abortions or share a physical space with an abortion provider from receiving federal funds through Title X.

Critics of Trump's old rule argued that current law already prevents the providers from using federal funding to cover abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman.

The final Health and Human Services [HHS] rule would allow these previously barred organizations to qualify for future grants for family planning activities as long as they use only private funding for abortion care. It would also reverse the requirement that grantees not share a space with an abortion provider.

"This rule is a step forward for family planning care as it aims to strengthen and restore our nation’s Title X program," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

A step in the right direction

A Women's March for Our Rights protest in San Francisco. Marches against the attack on reproductive freedom took part all over the country last weekend.
A Women's March for Our Rights protest in San Francisco. Marches against the attack on reproductive freedom took part all over the country last weekend.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

The Biden administration's rule requires clinics to use culturally and linguistically appropriate language, offer referrals for primary care providers, as well prescriptions for contraceptive methods if they aren't available on site.

It also adds questions about equity to the criteria for deciding whether to issue a grant, with the ultimate goal of improving access in historically underserved areas.

"Advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality, is a priority for the Administration, including the Title X program and the Department," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine.

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This step was hailed as a victory.

"We are encouraged that longstanding, highly qualified providers that withdrew from the program and have been without critical funding for more than two years can begin to rejoin the program under these new rules," said Clare Coleman, president and CEO of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association.

"We also look forward to continuing to work with the administration in rebuilding the network and expanding access to family planning care for all who need it."

Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine called equity a priority for the Biden administration.
Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine called equity a priority for the Biden administration.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

But the final rule is likely to face pushback in the coming weeks.

Abortion opponents argued that funding for the Title X program as a whole did not decrease due to the Trump rule change, but rather was redistributed to organizations that fit the new guidelines.

The Trump administration rule was the subject of multiple lawsuits. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the rule nationally, but the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the rule in Maryland, resulting in a circuit split.

The Supreme Court initially announced it would take up the case, but the Biden administration and the challengers asked for it to be dismissed.

The Trump regulation was similar to a Reagan-era rule, which was upheld by the Supreme Court as it was deemed legal for the government to "fund one activity to the exclusion of another." But the rule did not go into effect under the Clinton administration.

It’s likely the Biden rule will also be challenged in court.

Cover photo: IMAGO / NurPhoto

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