South Central Reporter

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) opposes a plan that she argues could make abortions more common across Illinois.

"More of your hard-earned money [is] being spent to provide abortions for anyone that wants one,” Bryant said recently in a Facebook post. “Remember [that] in Illinois, all pregnant woman [sic] – regardless of income – qualify for Medicaid. That means 100% taxpayer-funded abortion."

The $2 million investment was revealed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), according to CapitolFax.com. It will increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for abortion services across the state. The plan will also expand Title X funding for family planning and reproductive health service providers through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). "The 20% Medicaid reimbursement rate increase will give additional resources to providers facing new burdens in the wake of increased restrictions on reproductive care in surrounding states," the website noted.

Medicaid currently covers abortion services in Illinois, making the state one of only 16 to do so, CapitolFax.com reported. In addition, "the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services requires managed care organizations (MCOs) to include information about abortion service coverage in Medicaid member handbooks." MCO officials should be able to answer questions about abortion service coverage.

Currently, nearly 100 family planning clinics across the state offer Title X-supported services, according to CapitolFax.com. Over 150,000 patients have been served over the last two years. The plan will expand the number of providers offering Title X-funded services. Of the clinics' client base, 80% are below the federal poverty line.

Providers are now eligible to apply for grants "to expand the statewide network of clinics providing Title X-funded reproductive health care," CapitolFax.com reported. This includes breast and cervical cancer screening, HIV testing, infertility counseling, testing for pregnancy and STDs, and other family planning services and counseling. "The $2 million in funds would be in addition to $5.4 million in federal HHS [U.S. Department of Health & Human Services] funding and an existing $5.8 million in state funds, for a total budget of $13.2 million."

"The state rejoined the federal Title X program earlier in 2022 after a repeal of a Trump administration law banning recipients of Title X funds from referring patients to abortion providers or counseling patients on abortion services," according to CapitolFax.com. "Title X funds cannot be used for providing abortion care. During the three years the state declined to participate, the gap in funding was filled using the state’s General Revenue Fund."

Pritzker spoke on the subject in a press release on Thursday.

"Illinois abortion providers have been working overtime since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade," he said. "They need support as they take on this new burden on the frontlines of this fight. Supporting them with reimbursement increases allows them to focus on their important work without worrying about rising costs of supplies and services."

With the rate increase slated to go into effect on Sept. 1, abortion providers will be able to "recoup more costs and enable providers and clinics to provide more care without financial strain," the press release noted. The 20% increase in reimbursement is expected to cost approximately $3 million annually.

Bryant spoke out on Facebook in June to share her views on abortion in Illinois, according to Carbondale Reporter. This followed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, which established women's constitutional right to abortion.

The court's decision "actually means [that] nothing changes in Illinois," Bryant said. "Basically, in Illinois, you can still get an abortion at any time, for any reason, up to and including partial birth abortion. By the way, it's 100% taxpayer-funded. Women who are pregnant automatically qualify for Medicaid, and Illinois cannot reimburse the federal dollars for those abortions that are performed."