Dive Brief:

• Planned Parenthood announced Tuesday it will no longer accept reimbursement for costs involved in providing fetal tissue for medical research. 
• After an undercover video was released by the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion group, in July allegedly showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing procurement of fetal tissue, the organization has been under five different congressional investigations, state inquiries, and threats of federal funding cuts. 
• Out of its 700 health centers, only two - one in California and one in Washington State supply fetal tissue to research, and only the California one was being reimbursed. 

Dive Insight:

Although anti-abortion groups called the decision not to accept reimbursement a victory, The New York Times said it won't end congressional scrutiny. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), head of the House committee that questioned Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said, "Significant questions still remain about Planned Parenthood's finances." 

The video became a rallying cry for the GOP and its presidential candidates, according to the The Wall Street Journal and efforts to cut Planned Parenthood's funding almost caused a government shutdown. The organization maintains the stance it broke no laws, the videos were intentionally edited to be misleading, and the clinic legally received money to cover the expenses of procuring, storing and transporting tissue. A 1993 law made it illegal to make a profit on fetal tissue but said it is acceptable to be reimbursed for the cost of getting, storing and processing the tissue for research purposes. 

A special House committee was set up earlier this month to streamline the investigation that has been handled by three separate House panels. It will have additional resources, including the ability to subpoena documents and testimony, making it somewhat controversial. As reported in Healthcare Dive, the committee's jurisdiction includes "medical procedures and business practices used by entities involved in fetal tissue procurement" and "any other relevant matters with respect to fetal tissue procurement." The committee will also be able to recommend updates to laws and regulations based on its investigation. 

Planned Parenthood received $528 million from federal, state and local sources for FY 2015, close to 75% of that funding came from Medicaid to pay for birth control services and other women's healthcare, reported The New York Times. Rep. Chaffetz said in a statement his committee would continue its investigation into the organization's use of taxpayer dollars.

Planned Parenthood said it will continue to provide fetal tissue for research. In a letter addressed to the National Institutes of Health, Richards said, "Planned Parenthood's policies on fetal tissue donation already exceed the legal requirements. Now we're going even further in order to take away any basis for attacking Planned Parenthood to advance anti-abortion political agenda."