WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US state of Arkansas will cancel all government payments to health care provider Planned Parenthood in 30 days, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced.
"It is apparent that after the recent revelations on the actions of Planned Parenthood, that this organization does not represent the values of the people of our state, and Arkansas is better served by terminating any and all existing contracts with them," Hutchinson stated on Friday.
Under the governor’s order, within 30 days the Arkansas Department of Human Services will terminate existing agreements with Planned Parenthood and the organization will no longer receive funding.
In addition to Arkansas, the state governments of Louisiana, Alabama and New Hampshire have also called for Planned Parenthood to be defunded in their states. According to the organization's website, nearly half of Planned Parenthood funding is provided through US government grants.
President Barack Obama has previously warned states that defunding Planned Parenthood could violate the law, which guarantees access to all medical facilities by patients receiving federal health insurance under the health coverage program Medicaid.
