Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Florida Bill Preventing State Funding To Planned Parenthood Clinics Blocked
A federal judge on Thursday definitively blocked a Florida abortion law to prevent state funds from going to organizations that provide abortions — after the administration of Gov. Rick Scott made the unusual decision to drop further legal action. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle had placed a temporary hold on the challenged portions of the law hours before the law took effect last June. The sweeping law also was designed to greatly increase inspection requirements for abortion clinics. Planned Parenthood challenged three parts of the law. (Fineout, 8/18)
In other news, a Los Angeles pregnancy center agrees to cooperate with transparency laws after pressure from the city. And advocacy groups worry Walgreens clinics' religious ties affect the care provided —
A Los Angeles pregnancy center that failed to comply with a state law requiring it to provide clients with information about free or low-cost family planning services, prenatal care, contraception and abortions has agreed to cooperate, City Atty. Mike Feuer announced Thursday. After the Pregnancy Counseling Center in Mission Hills missed an Aug. 14 deadline to correct violations, the city attorney’s office moved to file a lawsuit under a state law that bars unfair business practices and carries a possible $2,500 daily penalty. Feuer also informed the center that his office would seek a temporary restraining order to force it to comply.  (Evans, 8/18)
A handful of advocacy groups say they are concerned that clinics at Walgreens in Missouri and Illinois may limit patients’ access to certain types of care and referrals because of the drugstore chain’s relationship with a religiously affiliated health system. Walgreens announced this year that SSM Health, the Creve Coeur-based Catholic health system, would take over the operations of 27 in-store clinics in Missouri and Illinois. (Liss, 8/18)
