Today Texas dealt healthcare for women another blow when it passed legislation banning Planned Parenthood and "other abortion providers" from the state's Medicaid program. The rule leaves at least 130,000 low-income Texas women without access to cancer screenings, well-woman exams and contraception.

The Associated Press reports that Texas Legislature passed a law last year making it illegal for the state to provide Medicaid funds to a doctor or clinic affiliated with an organization that provides elective abortions, even if the institution receiving the money does not provide them, a law Commissioner Tom Suehs signed Thursday. But the new state law contradicts a federal law that says states can't decide which qualified healthcare providers get state funding.

The Texas Tribune reports today:

At the direction of lawmakers and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Texas Health and Human Services commissioner signed a rule on Thursday that formally bans Planned Parenthood clinics and other "affiliates of abortion providers" from participating in the program — something the Obama administration has said is a deal-breaker for the nearly $40 million-per-year state-federal Medicaid program. The rule, signed by Commissioner Tom Suehs on Thursday, takes effect March 14. "Under federal law, states administer Medicaid and have the right to set the criteria for providers in the program. That is what Texas is doing," said Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman for the agency. "We have a state law that our Attorney General says is constitutional, and it clearly bans abortion providers from taking part in the Women’s Health Program. We can’t violate a perfectly valid state law just to appease Washington. We hope CMS will reverse its position and allow the program to continue." Unless some last-minute agreement is brokered, the program, which receives $9 in federal funds for every $1 in state funds, will be either phased out or cut off by the end of March. At least 130,000 poor Texas women will lose access to cancer screenings, well-woman exams and contraception.

Rebecca Acuña, a spokeswoman for the Texas Democratic Party, also said to the Texas Tribune:

"Texas Republicans never miss an opportunity to throw the most vulnerable Texans under the bus so that they can pick a fight with the federal government."

CBS Dallas Ft. Worth has video looking at the state’s director of Health and Human Services, Commissioner Tom Suehs, newly signed rule:

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Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards slammed the decision, saying, "Governor Perry and his conservative allies have once again chosen politics over the lives of Texas women. He will never know the reality of the women that rely on these programs. He will never know what it's like for a woman who feels a lump in her breast, but has to worry about the cost of a doctor’s visit.”

Gov. Perry "will never know what it's like for a woman who feels a lump in her breast, but has to worry about the cost of a doctor’s visit.”

Planned Parenthood added in a statement: