Federal Judge Blocks Parts Of New Abortion Law
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) - Siding with Planned Parenthood, a federal judge late Thursday issued a preliminary injunction against two parts of a controversial new Florida abortion law.
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, in a 25-page ruling, blocked part of the law that would prevent state agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans from contracting with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics that perform elective abortions.
While government agencies are already barred from funding elective abortions, Planned Parenthood argued that the law would prevent clinics from receiving money to provide other health services for women, such as pap smears, pregnancy testing and screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
Hinkle also blocked part of the law that would require state officials to inspect half of patient records at abortion clinics each year.
The new law went into effect July 1st.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.