Planned Parenthood rejects Title X funding over abortion rule: Here's what that means

Planned Parenthood announced this week that it was withdrawing from a federal family planning program, known as Title X, that will ban funding recipients from referring women to abortion providers.

The decision marks a major turning point in Planned Parenthood's fight for reproductive rights as Republican lawmakers push to ban abortion.

The organization says it plans to continue operating its health centers and find ways to make up for the loss of federal funding.

Here is what you need to know:

What exactly is Title X?

The Title X program has provided affordable birth control and reproductive health care to young, poor women since it was created nearly 50 years ago.

About 4 million patients are served nationwide under Title X, which distributes $260 million a year in family planning grants to clinics. The program has helped fill gaps in health care access including cancer screenings, STD testing and annual exams for women who are poor or don't have health insurance. It does not fund abortion care.

Planned Parenthood has been the largest provider, serving 40% of all Title X patients. Most of those patients are black or Hispanic.

When do Title X recipients have to comply with the new rule?

Program participants had until Monday to submit statements saying they would comply with the new requirement. Enforcement will begin Sept. 18.

In addition to the ban on abortion referrals by clinics, the new Title X rules include financial separation from facilities that provide abortions, designating abortion counseling as optional instead of standard practice and limiting which staff members can discuss abortion with patients. Clinics would have until next March to separate their office space and examination rooms from the physical facilities of providers that offer abortions.

Why did Planned Parenthood decide to reject the funding?

Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called the new Title X requirement an "unethical and dangerous gag rule" that is forcing Planned Parenthood grantees out of the program.

Planned Parenthood leaders say President Donald Trump's administration is using the new rule as a tactic to stop Planned Parenthood from providing abortions.

Johnson said the organization refuses to be "bullied" into withholding information from patients.

"Our patients come to us because they expect the best information and health care available," Johnson said. "And we have a commitment to provide that to them. But the gag rule would make it impossible for us to uphold that commitment."

What does this mean for women who want to have an abortion?

Johnson said Planned Parenthood facilities will remain open and work to ensure patients don't lose care. However, some communities could take a hit.

In Utah, Planned Parenthood is the sole Title X grantee. And in Minnesota, Planned Parenthood serves 90% of Title X patients, she said.

"It will simply be impossible for other health centers to fill the gap," Johnson said.

Patients in those states will see longer wait times for appointments or go without care, Johnson said. Women might also be forced to drive hundreds of miles for reproductive care.

Is anyone taking legal action against the new Title X requirement?

Planned Parenthood sued the Trump administration in March to block the rule that prohibits it from providing abortion referrals to Title X patients. The American Medical Association was also a plaintiff in the lawsuit. While three district courts sided with Planned Parenthood, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the rule to take effect. The cases are ongoing.

Other organizations, including Maine Family Planning, have dropped out of the program because of the new rule. Governors in Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Oregon and Washington have all stated they will withdraw from Title X if the new abortion rule is implemented. And state legislatures in Maryland and Massachusetts have passed laws saying they would opt out.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Planned Parenthood exits Title X over abortion rule: What that means