Is Kshama Sawant being honest on Planned Parenthood?

Prior to attending a rally, like she so often does these days, Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant expressed her concern over the Republican health care plan currently in the works.

Sawant: We’re seeing a mood of rebellion not seen since Vietnam

She said it is “extremely concerning” to her and women around the country that “our reproductive health care and all aspects of women’s health care around the country” are in jeopardy.

Fair enough.

But when she went into specifics, Sawant misstated the effects that revisions of the Affordable Care Act would have on Planned Parenthood.

Here’s what she said:

When Donald Trump says he’s going to cut massive funding to Planned Parenthood, what does that mean? It’s not only abortion rights that are on the chopping block, it’s all kinds of health care.

Actually, Planned Parenthood says the plan will have no effect on abortions because federal money has never been used for abortions. Planned Parenthood’s CEO Cecile Richards told CBS there has never been money from the feds earmarked for them.

The money everyone talks about Planned Parenthood losing is reimbursement for services to low-income patients.

“We’re not in the federal budget. Never have been. We work just like hospitals and other health care providers,” Richards explained. “And what we get reimbursed for is not abortions, because of course it is not allowed under the federal government.”

So, “all kinds of health care” is on the chopping block for women. But that is because of reimbursement, not the government targeting specific aspects of health care.

Of course, a revision by the Republicans could still impact millions of women. Richards explained one in five women have been to Planned Parenthood and the plan, as CBS puts it, will prevent women from getting access to the health care provider of their choice.

But Republicans say the proposal will be nothing but positive. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says the purpose of the health care reform is to provide more choices.

Republicans have argued that women who are served by Planned Parenthood will be fine if it closes down; they can just use the system of federally funded community health centers. But Richards points out they have that option now. And those centers end up referring women to Planned Parenthood.

“We work very closely with the community health centers because they refer to us … a woman who can’t get into a community health center right away will get referred to Planned Parenthood. It’s incredible because Planned Parenthood operates like every other hospital. We get reimbursed for services. Yet we are the only organization singled out by Congress. We are the only national women’s health care provider and we are extremely popular.”

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