EMAA AWAITS RESUMPTION OF FUNDING FOR FAMILY PLANNING

East Missouri Action Agency has continued to provide family planning services at its Cape Girardeau clinic even though state funds for those services have been on hold since November.

Now the agency is awaiting word on when it will be reimbursed by the state for the low-cost or free contraceptive pills and family planning services for poor women it has provided during that time, said Angel Prather, head of the EMAA family planning department.

EMAA holds the contract with the Missouri Department of Health to provide family planning services in Cape Girardeau County. State funds for providing those services were put on hold Nov. 16. Health director Maureen Dempsey ordered the halt in funding because the department's family planning contracts all had the same wording as the contract with Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood had its funding revoked by Cole County Circuit Judge Byron Kinder because of a state law banning state funding for any organization that provides abortions. Family planning clinics like EMAA's do not provide abortions.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that a lower court's ruling throwing out the state's contract with Planned Parenthood doesn't apply to other family planning providers.

Prather said she received a letter Tuesday stating that she would soon be receiving another letter about the resumption of state reimbursements.

She said she hoped the state funds would be paid in the next couple of weeks.

"We continued to provide services throughout this period because we were optimistic the funds would be restored," Prather said. "We didn't think our program would be cut since we don't provide abortions."

What the program does provide is pregnancy tests, PAP smears, breast exams, contraceptives, medications, sexually transmitted disease testing and other women's health services. Fees are based on a sliding scale according to income.

EMAA's contract with the Missouri Department of Health provides $218,250 to provide services in 11 counties from last September through next August. EMAA's family planning department also receives funds from federal family planning programs, Medicaid and patient fees.