Medicaid-paid abortion stalemate continues at Iowa Statehouse

Overnight negotiations did not produce a compromise on using Medicaid funds for “medically necessary” abortions at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

In fact, the House Republican caucus now opposes using Medicaid money for any abortions except in the case of the life of the mother, to Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley.

Wednesday, it appeared Republican were moving toward a compromise that would allow the state to provide abortions in cases of rape, incest and fetal abnormalities. However, they would require women to view an ultrasound before having an abortion and to receive “informed consent” material on options that included adoption, carrying the pregnancy to term and terminating the pregnancy. One negotiator said sonograms are standard operating procedure in those cases and conceded it wasn't clear how a woman would be required to look at the ultrasound or sonogram of her fetus.

Medicaid-funded abortions have been part of session law since 1978. Unlike statutory law, session law, however, has to be approved each session.

The state spent about $40,000 in Medicaid funds for roughly two dozen abortions, according to lawmakers.

The health and human services budget is the final $1.5 billion piece of the $5.999 billion general fund spending plan.

The stalemate creates the possibility that GOP leaders could go ahead with a compromise without the full support of the 60-member House caucus. In that case, some Democratic votes would be needed to pass the health and human services budget.

One Democratic lawmaker said that if it comes to that, “I have my shopping list.”

If no agreement is reached, Windschitl said, it's possible the Legislature would not adjourn and continue negotiations.

A new fiscal year begins July 1. If there is no health and human services budget in place, spending would continue at the current level for 30 days, under a temporary appropriations bill the House and Senate are expected to take up this morning. The current health and human services budget is about $900 million from the state general fund and $600 million in one-time funds from the federal stimulus money and state cash reserves. The fiscal 2012 budget is about $1.5 billion – all general funds dollars.

After 30 days, he said, the governor could use emergency authority to continue funding for the Department of Human Services.