Texas cuts off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood

Texas has officially blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving funds through the state's Medicaid program.

In a legal notice sent to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) on Tuesday, the state cited misconduct and violations of acceptable medical standards as reasons for ceasing Medicaid funding for the abortion provider.

According to the Texas Tribune, Planned Parenthood has previously received $3.1 million in Medicaid funding. The notice indicated that the abortion giant will no longer receive funds in 30 days.

Planned Parenthood officials have expressed their intention to go to court in order to block the cuts.

Planned Parenthood has filed a pre-emptive lawsuit a year ago to block Texas' efforts to cut off its Medicaid funding. The lawsuit was put on hold for a year because the state had not delivered its final legal notice to defund the abortion giant.

Texas Health and Human Services Inspector General Stuart Bowen said that the undercover videos released by Center for Medical Progress showed that Planned Parenthood "violated state law."

"Your misconduct is directly related to whether you are qualified to provide medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manner," Bowen wrote in the notice.

"Your actions violate generally accepted medical standards, as reflected in state and federal law, and are Medicaid program violations that justify termination," he added.

Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives Select Panel on Infant Lives released a fact sheet saying that PPGC "broke the law when it sold aborted baby remains for profit to the University of Texas."

Last week, President Barack Obama approved a new rule that would prevent states from cutting off funds allocated for federal family planning program known as Title X. The rule would require states to distribute funds for family planning services whether the health care facility that provides the services also performs abortions.

Federal officials have warned that cutting off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood could put Texas at odds with federal law. Federal courts in other states have ruled that it would be illegal to block Medicaid funding to the abortion provider.