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OPA posted the final regulations for the Title X family planning program and they look very much like the proposed regulations. kff.org/womens-health-…
They don’t become official until they are published in the Federal Register. hhs.gov/opa/sites/defa…
They don’t become official until they are published in the Federal Register. hhs.gov/opa/sites/defa…
The final reg blocks family planning providers from participating in the program if they provide or refer for abortion. This would effectively disqualify Planned Parenthood from the program & greatly reduce the existing Title X family planning provider network in many states. 
The reg removes the requirement that family planning providers offer non-directive pregnancy options counseling that includes abortion, adoption and prenatal care referral to pregnant women. If offered, only MDs and Advance Practice Clinicians can provide this counseling.
It also prohibits the Title X providers from providing abortion referrals to women. HHS considers that action as “offering abortion as a method of family planning.”
It requires grantees offer “a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services” including some but not all contraceptives, but would allow organizations that only offer natural family planning or abstinence to receive Title X funds as a sub-recipient.
A complicating & confusing factor: HHS is currently reviewing applications to Title X that were due 1/14 (under the prior reg) that would take effect 4/1 (current grants expire 3/31). Some parts of final reg effective 60 days post publication but others have a longer window.
It is unclear whether HHS will ask #TitleX applicants to reapply under the new regulations or to adapt their programs to comply.
A similar reg, issued under Reagan, was challenged in a case that reached the Supreme Court in Rust v Sullivan. In 1991, SCOTUS upheld HHS’ right to implement the reg. House & Senate voted to repeal the regulation, but it didn’t get the votes needed to override Bush Sr’s veto.
The Reagan era reg was never fully implemented as Clinton issued an executive order to suspend the regulation and then issued new regulations that are still in place (until the new final rule is published).
This final regulation undoubtedly will be legally challenged by a number of family planning organizations, states, and Title X grantees who will seek to block the implementation of this regulation. #TitleX
