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When the state passed the Women's Health Program in 2005, legislators said the intent was to provide more family planning services, but not abortions, to low-income Medicaid patients.

State Sen. Bob Deuell said due to a loophole in the law, Planned Parenthood is part of the program, but thinks they shouldn't be. As such, he has requested the attorney general clear up the matter.

Planned Parenthood clinics provide family planning services, such as screening for breast and cervical cancer, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and prescribing birth control to women. Some Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas also perform abortions.

But the Austin area clinic's spokesperson said clinics under the state’s Women's Health Program strictly provide family planning services.

"If Planned Parenthood isn't able to participate in the Women's Health Program, it basically means that there are tens of thousands of women across the state that probably aren't going to get that health care," Sarah Wheat, with Planned Parenthood, said.

Anti-abortion advocates like Joe Pojman, with Texas Alliance for Life, say that’s not the case. Pojman backed up Sen. Deuell's request to the attorney general to clear up any confusion about the 2005 law that states participating clinics can't "perform or promote elective abortions" or be "affiliates of entities that perform or promote elective abortions."

"Women and families will get excellent treatment by the other, more than 400 family planning providers across the state of Texas that do not run abortion facilities or are affiliated with abortion facilities," Pojman said.

A recent Health and Human Services Commission study shows that the Women's Health Program prevented more than 10,000 unplanned pregnancies in 2008 and saved the state about $40 million a year.

HHSC is also working with the attorney general to clear up the term "affiliate" and clearly define whether clinics like Planned Parenthood can participate.

While Sen. Deuell admits he isn't in favor of Planned Parenthood, he said his "goal is to provide comprehensive care and — abortion issue aside — the Planned Parenthood clinics don't provide comprehensive care."

It could take Attorney General Greg Abbott months to give his opinion.

In a brief HHSC officials sent to Abbott, they told him if the agency limits providers based on the way the law currently reads, the state risks violating Medicaid rules. State health officials said that could result in a loss of federal funding for the program.