Back in July 2011, Jonathan Bloedow, a private citizen of Washington State, filed suit against Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest under the False Claims Act. In the lawsuit, he alleged that Planned Parenthood was requesting and receiving extra government reimbursement for contraceptive pills. According to his lawsuit:
At all times relevant herein, Planned Parenthood falsely certified that it has been in compliance with all Applicable Laws and that it has been entitled to retain amounts it has been reimbursed for dispensed [Emergency Contraceptive Pills] and/or [Oral Contraceptive Pills] which amounts, as is set forth in more detail below, Planned Parenthood has known were in excess of the amounts Planned Parenthood was entitled to bill, receive, and/or retain.
Mr. Bloedow’s math shows that Planned Parenthood received at least $5,671,822 above what it should have from the government for emergency contraceptive pills and at least $28,372,88 above for oral contraceptive pill during the 2003-2009 time frame. Alliance Defending Freedom estimates that Planned Parenthood could have to pay up to $377,134,130.
While the district judge dismissed the lawsuit last month, Mr. Bloedow filed a Notice of Appeal last week, sending the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
According to Michael Norton, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom:
Americans deserve to know, especially in economic times like these, if their hard-earned tax money is being funneled to groups that are misusing it. Compliance with the law should not be sacrificed for the sake of Planned Parenthood’s bottom line. They have cheated the American taxpayer for too long. It’s time the abortion giant is held accountable.
