Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Administration Shortens Title X Funding Period In A Move That Suggests Abortion-Related Regulation Is Coming
The Trump administration on Wednesday shortened the funding period for grants awarded to organizations providing family planning services. The Title X grants will fund groups that offer birth control, STD testing and other family planning services through March 2019. Previous funding lasted for three-year periods. (Hellmann, 8/29)
The Title X program has been the focus of an intensifying political and legal battle, with the Trump administration seeking to steer money away from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers and toward faith-based programs. Earlier this month, HHS announced it would award Title X grants to 96 organizations, including to the 13 Planned Parenthood affiliates that applied. But it gave no indication at the time that the funding cycle would be different; nor did it give an overall dollar amount. (Roubein and Ehley, 8/29)
In other news —
A federal appeals court on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by The Satanic Temple against Missouri abortion laws, but there still are two pending lawsuits that could revive the complaints. Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit upheld a lower court's dismissal of the lawsuit, which dealt with Missouri's "informed consent" counseling that is required 72 hours before abortions are performed. (Ballentine, 8/29)
A measure that would make California the first state to require all public universities to offer abortion medication at their campus health centers cleared a hurdle Wednesday. None of the 34 University of California or California State University campuses currently offer abortion services. The California Assembly approved the measure, which returns to the Senate for a final sign-off. (8/29)
