Planned Parenthood's main argument against defunding them is that they are just reimbursed by Medicaid for services provided. Forgetting for a moment their focus on abortion over real health services, Planned Parenthood has a terrible track record as a steward of your taxpayer dollars.
A comprehensive review finds fraud
The Charlotte Lozier Institute and Alliance Defending Freedom released an excellent and detailed report on January 4 of Planned Parenthood's numerous problems with overbilling taxpayers through Medicaid. Audits and investigations have found Planned Parenthood affiliates to be the source of at least $12.8 million in waste and fraud. One federal audit found a Planned Parenthood affiliate was billing the federal government for abortion-related procedures. New York taxpayers are forced to directly pay for abortions through the state's portion of Medicaid, but federal law dictates that no federal Medicaid dollars must go to abortion. What was done about it? Not much! Time and again we've seen that pro-abortion officials rarely treat Planned Parenthood the same as other organizations or businesses.
Settling a case of Medicaid fraud in Texas
Let's briefly focus on one case in Texas, where public officials actually held Planned Parenthood accountable for once. A Planned Parenthood staff member blew the whistle on her employer, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. Allegations include falsifying medical records, billing for non-existent services, and providing unnecessary services. Planned Parenthood settled the case for $4.3 million. Texas has made efforts to kick Planned Parenthood out of their Medicaid program, but the pro-abortion Obama Administration attempted to exact revenge by holding other Medicaid patients hostage, leading to a long and convoluted fight still going on today.
How does this fraud work?
Former Planned Parenthood clinic director Sue Thayer is currently in court, alleging Planned Parenthood in Iowa committed $28 million in Medicaid fraud by filing 500,000 false claims. She details how Planned Parenthood takes advantage of the system for financial benefit. Planned Parenthood would mail out packets of birth control to former clients without a request. A month's supply for one woman only cost Planned Parenthood $2.98, but Thayer alleges Planned Parenthood was paid $26.32 by Medicaid. If pills were returned to Planned Parenthood through the mail as unwanted, they would mailed out to other women and billed again to Medicaid. Thayer alleges that Planned Parenthood also doubled-dipped by asking for donations for services, then billing the same services to Medicaid.
