HHS urges Supreme Court to block Oklahoma funding after ruling

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has urged the Supreme Court to deny Oklahoma's request for reinstatement of a $4.5 million family planning grant, which was canceled due to the state's refusal to provide abortion information. This follows a similar case involving Tennessee, where a federal appeals court upheld the denial of a $7 million grant for the same reason. HHS maintains that states must offer comprehensive information about family planning options, including abortion, to qualify for Title X funding. Oklahoma argues that the Sixth Circuit's ruling regarding Tennessee is not applicable to its situation, citing state law that prohibits abortion referrals. The state contends that its legal framework, which bans abortion except to save the mother's life, should exempt it from HHS's requirements. However, HHS insists that compliance with federal regulations is necessary for funding eligibility under the Public Health Service Act of 1970. The HHS brief emphasizes that the Supreme Court should reject Oklahoma's request, as the Sixth Circuit's decision aligns with the 10th Circuit's ruling in the Oklahoma case. The brief also highlights that the legislative provision prohibits funding programs that discriminate against healthcare entities based on their abortion-related services, a point Oklahoma claims is relevant to its case. Currently, Justice Neil Gorsuch is reviewing Oklahoma's application on the Supreme Court's emergency docket, with no clear timeline for a decision. The outcome could significantly impact the state's family planning services and funding availability.