Oregon just ended almost 50 years of participation in the federal Title X health care program due to pressure at the federal level.
Last week, the Oregon Health Authority tried to work around a new Trump Administration rule that stops Title X money from being used to tell women about all reproductive options – including abortion.
The state told the federal government it wanted to continue getting Title X money, but that it wouldn’t spend it until a lawsuit was settled.
The federal Department of Health and Human Services told the state that wouldn’t work. They told Oregon to give up the money or be terminated from the grant.
Oregon Health Authority director Patrick Allen said Oregon has no choice but to relinquish the money.
“We can’t violate our own state laws that guarantee Oregon women full access to reproductive health services,” Allen said.
"Oregon stands in solidarity with other states in maintaining that the new Title X rule will reduce access to birth control, cancer screenings and reproductive choices," he said.
Title X money helped about 44,000 women in Oregon last year. The state said it has funds to continue offering reproductive health services.
Copyright 2019 Oregon Public Broadcasting
