The Republicans are Wrong to try to cut Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood bills the U.S. Government for specific services it delivers to patients that are covered under U.S. Government programs. Since abortion services are not so covered, the Government is not billed for any abortion services provided by Planned Parenthood. Among the services covered are family planning services, sexually transmitted disease services and breast examinations. Planned Parenthood provides services to some 3 million patients per year. These are provided at low cost, and that cost is subsidized by state governments and private donations as well as financed by federal government payments. If the Federal Government stopped paying for Planned Parenthood services, many of its patients would go to hospitals and other facilities that would charge more to the Government for the same services. Others would not receive the early outpatient services; the result would be more unwanted pregnancies, more abortions, and more health expenditures.