Ohio officials grapple with Planned Parenthood restrictions

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio law that strips government funding from Planned Parenthood is forcing health officials in some cities and counties to scramble to find replacement providers to perform cancer screenings, promote teen pregnancy prevention and provide prenatal care to women, along with other services.

Last month, the Ohio Department of Health sent letters to Planned Parenthood affiliates around the state alerting them that certain funding for their prevention and health programs was being terminated "as of 11:59 p.m. on May 22" because of the law's restrictions, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Associated Press through a records request.

The two counties received roughly $350,000 from a grant that lasts through September to help women during their pregnancies and up to two years after they give birth, according to Planned Parenthood's lawsuit.

Because of the law's restrictions, the counties' officials ultimately decided to have Mahoning County take over the program for the remainder of the grant.

Cuyahoga County's health department contracts with Planned Parenthood to train staff that works with at-risk youth in the foster care system as part of an effort to prevent teen pregnancy.