Governor Fallin is calling for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to terminate contracts with Planned Parenthood affiliates, but probably not for the reason most pro-life advocates would think. The Governor pointed out to OHCA Chief Executive Officer Nico Gomez that Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma in Oklahoma City and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland in Tulsa have been found to have high billing error rates. Past findings also show overbilling, or association with other providers who do not rigorously adhere to the high standards for access to public funds.
Fallin’s letter calls on Gomez to consider terminating the Planned Parenthood contracts. The OHCA did a review of the organization’s operations on request of the governor earlier this year. The review was to ensure no state funds were being misused. While no improper use of state Medicaid funds was found, both affiliates had large billing error rates, costs taxpayers thousands of dollars.
“These results are alarming,” wrote Fallin in a letter to Gomez (see attachment). “These errors result in overbilling to the Oklahoma taxpayer. The lack of attention to the requirements imposed on a responsible provider is a continuing problem for these Planned Parenthood affiliates.”
Fallin also requested that Gomez recommend terminating contracts with similar providers found to have a high billing error rate or past findings of overbilling.
