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MD Could Drop Out of Federal Family Planning Program Over Abortion

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland could become the first state to stop participating in the federal Title X program due to a Trump administration rule that would prohibit family planning clinics funded by the program from making abortion referrals, under a measure headed to the state's House of Delegates.

The House is scheduled to take up the bill Friday.

It would prohibit the state's health department from accepting any federal money under the Title X Family Planning Program, if it excludes family planning providers. If the health department doesn't accept funding, the state would have to fund Maryland's Family Planning Program at the same level as the previous fiscal year.

Planned Parenthood says it will leave the Title X program if the Trump administration rule is implemented, rather than abide by the new restrictions.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.