Texas Hearing on New Women's Health Program

Public hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Texas is holding a public hearing on what its Women's Health Program may look like after the federal government pulls funding amid a battle over Planned Parenthood.

A 2011 state law barred funding to clinics affiliated with abortion providers. The Women's Health Program provides services to about 130,000 low-income women.

It had been 90 percent sponsored by the federal government, but Washington says Texas' law violates federal rules, and plans to stop funding the program in November.

Planned Parenthood provided care to about half of the program's participants. It sued, but an appeals court ruled that Texas can continue with plans to freeze funding to all its clinics.

Texas has vowed to pay for the program on its own. Tuesday's hearing may provide clues of how it will do that.  

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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