Senate votes to ban TennCare funds from health care providers that perform elective abortions

The Tennessee Senate voted 24-2 on Thursday to ban any TennCare funds from going to health care providers that perform elective abortions.

While no funds from TennCare, the state's Medicaid agency, directly fund abortions currently, sponsor Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, said the purpose of the measure is to prevent any taxpayer dollars from indirectly funding abortions as well.

The measure would direct the state to seek a waiver from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in order to exclude elective abortion providers from receiving TennCare funding.

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"We have dozens of other medical clinics," Bell said. "This is not a cut. It is the policy of the state to favor child birth as an integral part of the health and the welfare of the state."

But Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, criticized a part of the measure that would also cut non-abortion health care services provided at some locations where elective abortions are performed.

He and Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, said that although the bill seeks to prevent abortions, the proposal could lead to more abortions as it could could prevent some women from receiving medical services at their current providers.

"This bill is trying to make a statement about abortions at the expense of causing other abortions," Yarbro said.

"This bill does not limit funding for abortion at all," Harris said. "What this bill does is limit funding for other health care services. Those services would dry up."

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Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, then asked the sponsor to clarify whether the bill would eliminate any funding.

Bell responded that no funds would be eliminated, only redirected.

He said health care providers that would stop receiving funding if the measure passes, could stop providing abortions and not be affected.

"This bill is a statement," Bell said. "It’s a statement from this legislative body. It’s a statement from the people of Tennessee, that we want our money to stop going to providers that perform elective abortions."

Reach Reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or by email at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.