Texas cuts off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas is cutting off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics following undercover videos of officials discussing fetal tissue — potentially triggering legal battles like the one unfolding in neighboring Louisiana.

In a letter Monday, Texas health officials informed Planned Parenthood affiliates statewide that all Medicaid funding was being severed.

The move comes after undercover videos released by the anti-abortion Center for Medical Progress, one of which was filmed secretly at a Texas Planned Parenthood clinic.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal ordered his state to block funding in the wake of the same videos but Planned Parenthood sued, challenging ending funding for non-abortion services like cancer screenings and gynecology exams.

On Monday, a federal judge ordered Louisiana to continue providing Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics for 14 more days.