Yesterday the National Right to Life Committee fired off a press release warning that the Department of Health and Human Services had approved the federal funding of elective abortions in Pennsylvania:

The Obama Administration will give Pennsylvania $160 million to set up a new high-risk insurance program under a provision of the federal health care legislation enacted in March and has quietly approved a plan submitted by an appointee of Governor Edward Rendell (D) under which the new program will cover any abortion that is legal in Pennsylvania.

According to Douglas Johnson, NRLC's legislative director, Under the Rendell-Sebelius plan, federal funds will subsidize coverage of abortion performed for any reason, except sex selection. The Pennsylvania proposal conspicuously lacks language that would prevent funding of abortions performed as a method of birth control or for any other reason, except sex selection and the Obama Administration has now approved this.As noted at Faith in Public Life's blog Bold Faith Type, NRLC's claim was promptlyparrotedby the Family Research Council and House Minority Leader John Boehner. But are they right? Here's what the Pennsylvania high-risk insurance pool plan actually says:

Abortions: Includes only abortions and contraceptives that satisfy the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. 3204-3206 and 35 P.S. 10101, 10103-10105.1. Elective abortions are not covered. Services rendered to treat illness or injuries resulting from an elective abortion are covered.

NRLC is convinced that "elective abortions are not covered" is simply false because, they argue, Pennsylvania's health-exception is too permissive.In response, the Department of Health and Human Services issued the following clarification:

Under the Affordable Care Act and the President's related Executive Order, federal funds made available to states for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan may not be used to fund abortion. We will reiterate this policy in guidance to those running the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan at both the state and federal levels.