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Trying to quell the controversy over its use of fetal tissue, Planned Parenthood announced Tuesday that it would no longer accept reimbursement for the costs of providing the tissue for medical research. The move comes after months of attacks on the group, beginning with the release in July of undercover videos by anti-abortion groups. The videos seemed to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the procurement of fetal tissue, which led to an unsuccessful Republican effort in Congress to end its federal financing. (Lewin, 10/13)

“Over the last two months, opponents of safe and legal abortion have turned patently false claims about our role in fetal tissue donation into fodder to advance their extreme political agenda,” Richards wrote in the letter, which was released Tuesday. The results of that campaign, she said, included “votes in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate that would have blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving federal reimbursements for providing cancer screenings and other preventive care.” (LaGanga and Muskal, 10/13)

Fetal tissue has been provided by affiliates in California and Washington state; the Washington affiliates haven’t taken money while the California ones have, she said. The Oregon affiliate has provided placental tissue in exchange for reimbursement. The group didn’t disclose how much money it will forgo with its policy change. (Armour, 10/13)

Republicans in control of Congress have responded to the undercover videos by launching several investigations of Planned Parenthood, along with efforts to cut off the organization's federal funding. Most of that funding is reimbursement for Medicaid patients receiving cancer screenings, contraception and other non-abortion services. (10/13)

In Washington, the saga has led to the threat of a shutdown, the resignation of House Speaker John Boehner and now a House Republican conference without a leader. Planned Parenthood allies had quietly suggested that the organization could end the political uproar by refusing to accept legally allowed payments for the cost of procuring and handling tissue. Laguens on Tuesday said that the decision was the result of thorough analysis. (Haberkorn, 10/13)

Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the oversight committee, said the policy change was a good move but that Planned Parenthood's spending and federal support remained in question. Planned Parenthood receives about $500 million annually in federal funds, largely in Medicaid reimbursements. (Trott, 10/13)

The organization has been under fire since a Southern California group, the Center for Medical Progress, released covertly recorded videos this summer it said showed Planned Parenthood officials seeking to make money from the sale of tissue from aborted fetuses to medical researchers. The controversy initiated a series of hearings led by Republicans in Congress and a call to end federal funding to Planned Parenthood. (Colliver, 10/13)