Texas medical groups oppose Women’s Health Program rule

by Hollie O'Connor of The Texas Tribune

The Texas Medical Association argued doctors might leave the program as a result of the rule, putting the already embattled program at risk.

Photo by Marjorie Kamys Cotera

Protest against Texas lawmakers decision regarding changed to the the Women's Health Program on March 6, 2012.

A proposed state rule that would prohibit doctors in Texas' Women's Health Program from discussing the option of abortion with their patients — even if the patient asks about it — has drawn the opposition of Texas medical groups.

The groups take issue specifically with a clause that states the provider must not "promote elective abortions." The word "promote" as defined by the proposed rule includes counseling and referrals to abortion providers, as well as the display of any materials from abortion providers.

In a letter to the Department of State Health Services on Friday, the Texas Medical Association, along with four other groups representing a combined 47,000 physicians and medical students, wrote that the rule would jeopardize medical ethics and doctors' relationships with their patients. They argued doctors might leave the program as a result of the rule, putting the already embattled program at risk.

“The relationship between patient and physician is based on trust and creates the physician’s ethical obligations to place the patient’s welfare above his or her own personal politics, self-interest and above obligations to other groups,” the letter states.

State health officials responded in a written statement, saying they appreciate the groups' concerns and will carefully review all the input they get on the proposed rule. "We understand that doctors have certain professional obligations to their patients, and we want to ensure that the rule allows doctors to meet those obligations," Health and Human Services Commission spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said.

Texas' Women's Health Program, which provides contraception and health screenings — but not abortions — to some of the poorest women in the state, is no stranger to controversy. The program is already set to lose more than $30 million in annual federal Medicaid funding since lawmakers moved to exclude Planned Parenthood and other clinics affiliated with abortion providers from the program. Gov. Rick Perry has asked state health leaders to find adequate funding in Texas' budget to maintain the program without federal help.

Friday's letter was co-signed by the Texas division of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians and the Texas Pediatric Society.