Gov. Parson signs bill banning abortion providers from Medicaid reimbursements

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has signed a bill that bans abortion providers and their affiliates from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.

This bill is aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood, a major priority for Republicans in this legislative session.

Parson officially signed HB 2634 into law on Thursday. While public funds are already prohibited from funding abortions in Missouri, the new law will now prevent any taxpayer money from supporting abortion providers or affiliates in the state.

“We’ve ended all elective abortions in this state, approved new support for mothers, expecting mothers, and children, and, with this bill, ensured that we are not sending taxpayer dollars to abortion providers for any purpose,” said Gov. Parson via a news release.

Opponents say that Republicans have consistently doubled down on reproductive rights this session after Missouri ban most abortions two years ago, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“This bill is just another harsh attack on reproductive freedom deployed by the Missouri Republican Party, despite watching voters across the country repeatedly reject this extreme government overreach at the ballot box. Missouri has one of the most extreme abortion bans on the books, and Missouri Republicans want to go further,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood of St. Louis offered this statement on the new legislation:

“Governor Parson’s decision to sign this bill into law is deeply disappointing and harmful to the tens of thousands of Missourians who rely on Planned Parenthood for essential health care. This bill not only defies the ruling of Missouri’s highest court but also flouts federal Medicaid law. By denying Medicaid patients’ right to receive health care from Planned Parenthood, politicians are directly obstructing access to much-needed health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, annual wellness exams, and STI testing and treatment.

“Planned Parenthood health centers play a critical role in Missouri’s health care safety net. ‘Defunding’ Planned Parenthood risks the sustainability of the state’s entire health care system and the health of all Missourians who rely on it. We remain committed to fighting for the rights of all Missourians to access the care they need and deserve. We will do everything we can to continue serving our patients in Missouri and beyond with quality, compassionate, live-saving health care.”

Meanwhile, abortion advocates with Missourians for Constitutional Freedom and the ACLU of Missouri dropped off more than 380,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office last week. The state’s initiative petition process would allow voters to decide on whether overturn Missouri’s abortion ban in November.

The new law will not take effect until Aug. 28, 2024.

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