Could states use federal health care funding to provide abortions?

Even though President Obama promised federal dollars would not be used to fund abortions, two states announced they will administer federal mandated high-risk plans through existing high-cost insurance pools. Plans offered through the pools include elective abortion coverage.

Let’s see if we can put this not unexpected news together for you…

1. The new health care legislation requires states to create a high-risk insurance pool to cover those who have pre-existing conditions. This continues – I think – until the federal plans are put into place.
2. The federal government is helping out with the mandate, in this case by providing $85 million and $160 million in federal funds to Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively to pay for the plans.
3. Both states (Maryland press release) announced they will administer the high-risk plans through existing programs they already offer for those with pre-existing conditions; which happen to include elective abortions.

The Maryland press release is linked to a frequently asked question sheet that states…

What benefits are offered by the MHIP Federal Plan?
The MHIP Federal Plan offers the same benefit package as other MHIP plan options.

As pointed out by CNS News staff writer Matt Cover, the MHIP plan currently in place lists abortion as covered in their Certificate of Coverage document, page 53.

In response, the Obama administration’s Health and Human Services Department announced a clarification; coverage in those plans would not include abortion except in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in danger.

But wait … these are state plans, not federal. How can the Obama administration just tell the states to exclude abortion coverage?

Of course, the next step from the states – since they want the cash – is to just create another plan or change existing plans to sort-of-kind-of cover the promise Obama made not to use federal dollars to fund elective abortions.

The money gets all mixed together … do you really expect the segregation of funds will be possible?

Maybe you don’t want the federal government funding abortions? Maybe you don’t want the federal government funding faith-based initiatives? This is another example for all camps, socialists, progressives, liberals, conservatives and libertarians … the federal government is too damn big and gets involved with too much stuff. Let the states – exclusively – deal with these situations in the state legislatures.