Groups outraged by the state awarding the Heidi Group a $1.6 million contract to provide women’s healthcare have called for an investigation of the procurement of that state money. Houston Democratic State Rep. Jessica Farrar says the group that was founded by anti-abortion activist Carol Everett does not possess a medical license in order operate.
“Moreover, the organization is led by a very vocal and very active anti-abortion advocate, the problem here is Texas women cannot afford to have biased, it’s not even healthcare, so I can’t call it healthcare because they’re not licensed," Farrar explains.
Farrar says the Heidi Group also does not currently provide contraception to it’s patients requesting them, but in a statement, the group’s founder Everett says they will contract with third-party doctors’ offices to provide those type of services if there is a need.
The $1.6 million grant is the second highest grant to be awarded by the Texas Health Human Services Commission under the state’s Women’s Health Program, that was set up in 2005.