News release from Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R-3rd):
Stutzman Leads Charge to Defend Indiana’s Pro-Life Law
One hundred Members of Congress Sign Letter to HHS
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) led a bipartisan, congressional effort to defend Indiana’s Medicaid Plan, with ninety-nine members of Congress joining in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Donald Berwick. With a clear voice, the group formally protested the Obama Administration’s rejection of Indiana’s pro-life Medicaid plan and calls for a reversal of the decision.
“We’ve called on HHS to face the facts,” said Congressman Stutzman. “Contrary to the spin put out by Planned Parenthood, Indiana’s law does not change Medicaid benefits. It would only change where Hoosiers would receive those benefits. Given the fact that Indiana has already identified eight-hundred providers who will still provide Medicaid services, the administration seems more interested in taking marching orders from Planned Parenthood than serving Hoosiers. This fits into a troubling pattern of federal hostility toward state governments.”
On May 10, 2011, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed HEA1210 into law. The law prohibits state and federal funds from going to “any entity that performs abortions or maintains or operates a facility where abortions are performed” except for hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers. Two days later, Indiana submitted a modified Medicaid State Plan that reflected changes made by HEA1210. Regrettably, Dr. Donald Berwick, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), promptly refused to approve the plan.
“The tremendous support I’ve seen in Washington goes to show that this isn’t a ‘Hoosiers-only’ issue,” continued Stutzman. “Across the country, many pro-life victories are being won on the state level. I’m going to fight to make sure that this administration doesn’t make an example of Hoosiers who only ask that their taxes don’t fund the abortion business. I’m confident that Indiana will continue to defend the law and I’ll continue to lend support in any way I can. With Governor Daniels’ signature, HEA1210 remains in effect.”
Congressman Stutzman represents the 3rd Congressional District of Indiana and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on the Budget and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Indiana’s 3rd District contains all of DeKalb, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley counties, as well as parts of Allen and Elkhart counties.
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