While the State of Texas battles in court for what it says is its right to exclude Planned Parenthood from participating in the Medicaid Women's Health Program (WHP) there, the Texas Health and Human Services commission is sending mixed messages to the more than 50,000 women who currently rely on Planned Parenthood for their care through the WHP.

Instead of waiting for the courts to decide whether Planned Parenthood, considered by the state of Texas to be an "abortion affiliate," can participate in WHP, the state's HHSC last week sent out a mailer to 100,000 low-income women enrolled in the program advising them that Planned Parenthood could no longer provide WHP services -- despite the fact that it has not yet been excluded.