Fighting for Women's Health

The Texas Women's Health Program provides preventative health care to more than 100,000 Texas women, including screenings for breast and cervical cancer, diabetes and hypertension, among other services. First implemented in 2007, the program is being phased out by the Obama Administration.

Under federal law, state leaders are left to administer the program and set criteria for who is considered a qualified provider. Consistent with state and federal law, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has developed the program to ensure continued access to care by qualified providers across Texas.

The Obama Administration rejected the state's waiver application because Texas law excludes abortion providers and their affiliates, like Planned Parenthood, from a list of qualified providers. This is despite the fact Planned Parenthood represents less than 2 percent of enrolled providers statewide.

Following the administration’s decision, Gov. Perry directed Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek to establish TWHP to continue providing the services WHP provided, until the decision is reversed by Congress or the courts.

Women's Health Program Facts

» The program has been in effect since 2007, and provides preventative health care, including breast and cervical cancer screenings to more than 100,000 low-income, Texas women.
» Texas law prohibits tax dollars from funding abortion providers and their affiliates and has since the program's inception.
» Under federal law, states administer Medicaid and have the right to set the criteria for "qualified providers" in the program, not Washington. This is exactly what Texas has done, in accordance with Texas law. Texas law prohibits tax cheats, deadbeat parents or people suspected of serious abuse from participating as a provider in Medicaid, even though federal law does not.
» There are more than 2,500 qualified providers in the WHP.
» Planned Parenthood represents less than two percent of providers in the WHP.
» Planned Parenthood's cost per client is 43 percent higher than most other providers, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
» In FY 2010, nearly 80 percent of women served received WHP services from non Planned Parenthood providers.

News & Announcements

• Tuesday, September 18, 2012 • Houston, Texas • Press Release
  Text of Gov. Perry’s Remarks at The Source for Women’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
  Gov. Rick Perry gave remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony of The Source for Women of Spring Branch pregnancy medical center.
• Tuesday, August 21, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Statement by Gov. Perry on the 5th Circuit’s Decision to Vacate Preliminary Injunction Regarding Women’s Health Program
  Today’s ruling affirms that Texas’ Women’s Health Program has no obligation to fund organizations that promote abortion – including Planned Parenthood. The 5th Circuit’s decision is a win for Texas women, our rule of law and our state’s priority to protect life. We will continue to work with Attorney General Abbott in the fight to defend our state laws. Texas will continue providing important health services for women through this program in spite of the Obama Administration’s disregard for our state law and unilateral decision to defund this program.
• Monday, April 30, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Statement by Gov. Perry’s Press Secretary Regarding WHP Injunction
  Texas has a long history of protecting life, and we are confident in Attorney General Abbott's appeal to defend the will of Texans and our state law, which prohibits taxpayer funds from supporting abortion providers and affiliates in the Women's Health Program, Gov. Perry's Press Secretary Catherine Frazier said.
• Wednesday, March 21, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  ICYMI: Texas Members of Congress Call on Obama Administration to Reverse Decision Ending Women’s Health Program
  Thirteen Texas Congressmen today rallied against the Obama Administration's latest attempt to erode Texas' 10th Amendment rights in a letter questioning the administration's attack on the Women's Health Program due to a long-standing state law prohibiting tax dollars from going to abortion providers and their affiliates, like Planned Parenthood.
• Friday, March 16, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Statement by Gov. Rick Perry on Texas WHP Lawsuit
  Gov. Rick Perry today applauded Attorney General Greg Abbott's swift action in response to the Obama Administration's decision to shut down the Texas Women's Health Program (WHP), which provides preventive health care to more than 100,000 low-income women.
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