A state district judge has issued a temporary restraining order telling Texas not to kick Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program, if they continue to accept federal funds. In response, state officials said they will launch a new program on Nov. 1 using only state funds and exclude the group.
Planned Parenthood has been fighting a new rule that bans groups affiliated with abortion providers from taking part in a taxpayer-funded program that provides preventive health care and contraception to poor women. State law prohibits taxpayer-funded abortions, but lawmakers also ordered officials to withhold funding from groups what work with abortion providers.
Federal officials declared the new rule illegal and withdrew Medicaid funding saying the new rule interferes with a woman's right to choose their doctor.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.