Indiana Attorney General Appealing Latest Ruling in Planned Parenthood Case

Officials with Planned Parenthood of Indiana say they are not surprised that the state attorney general is appealing a recent court ruling in favor of the group.After a law blocking state funding from any organization that provides abortions took effect, Planned Parenthood filed suit. Late last week, a judge issued a temporary block on the law until the case is settled.Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office has appealed the ruling. The state is also appealing a federal decision that blocked Indiana's attempt to change Medicaid rules and bring them in line with the new law. The cases will likely both be heard by the appeals court. A loss to Planned Parenthood would mean the law could not be enforced. A loss to the federal government would mean the state's roughly $4 billion Medicaid allotment would be cut off.The federal government and Planned Parenthood both argue that the state government cannot restrict Medicaid patients' access to care. Zoeller's office contends that the law–as it was passed by the state legislature–is sound. Further, the office contends that the federal dispute should take priority over Planned Parenthood's case.