Florida’s clinics face being defunded due to new anti-abortion bill
As the debate over abortion rights continues, a new bill recently signed into law by Governor Rick Scott has put funding in limbo for many women’s health clinics, causing concern from health providers and advocates.
The new law called HB 1411, which takes effect July 1, cuts all state funding for clinics that provide abortions. The law also enforces stringent abortion requirements on health clinics that may force them to shut down due to the expense of compliance. Under the new regulations, doctors performing abortions would need admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The clinic would also require annual licensure inspections. State agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans would also be blocked from having contracts with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics performing elective abortions.
Losing these clinics, however, argues Dr. Clarabelle Manigatt, who works at a women’s clinic in North Miami, would have a severe impact on the broad spectrum of health services provided for women, particularly the financially disadvantaged.
“It’s unfortunate these clinics which provide a variety of services for woman are routinely described as ‘abortion clinics,’” says Dr. Manigatt. “These clinics provide general healthcare for women, including cancer screening, birth control, and pre-natal care.”
The doctor also emphasized most of the patients are low-income women, many of whom are immigrants from the Caribbean. “Lawmakers tend to only focus on abortions, unconcerned that depriving these clinics of funding hurts several women needing vital healthcare,” Dr. Manigatt said.
Several states with Republican led administrations have passed legislation challenging the operations of such clinics, most prominently that Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The organization support clinics that serve over 67,000 women in Florida annually, and millions of women nationally.
Planned Parenthood’s national president, Cecile Richards, also argued that the new law will negatively impact access to healthcare and family planning services for low-income women in South Florida. She cautioned some clinics could close because of funding issues.
Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, also expressed concern that the law will result in increased HIV rates and teenage pregnancies, as women will lose access to regular treatment at state-funded clinics.
The law takes effect July 1 but will probably be challenged in court quickly. Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said he was not surprised the governor signed the bill.
“He claims to be for small government, pro-freedom and opposed to putting government in between people and their doctors – except when it comes to Florida’s women,” said Simon.
Another Florida law passed last year, requiring women to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion, recently took effect and faces a continued legal challenge.
