Iowa fails — again — to find administrator for network of contentious anti-abortion centers

Iowa has experienced another major roadblock in its effort to launch its state-funded network of crisis pregnancy centers.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has failed again to identify anyone that can manage the state's "More Options for Maternal Support" or MOMS program, which was a Gov. Kim Reynolds-backed proposal to provide $2 million in state dollars to fund anti-abortion centers.

The law passed by the GOP-majority Iowa Legislature directed the state agency to find a nonprofit based in Iowa to serve as a program administrator of the MOMS program, overseeing the network of pregnancy resource centers and maintaining a record of the services provided to Iowans.

But the state received "no responsive bidders" to its request for proposals that was released in July. As a result, state officials are rescinding its request for proposals, the department announced this week.

This is the state's second unsuccessful search for a MOMS program administrator in the past year. The previous search, which only garnered an application from one entity seeking to serve as program administrator, failed to yield "any sufficiently responsive bids," state officials said.

State officials have not said whether they plan to launch a third search for a program administrator.

"Until the program administrator contract is awarded the Agency will serve in the program administrator role," HHS Spokesperson Sarah Ekstrand said in an email to the Register last month.

It's unclear what long-term impact this could have for Iowa's MOMS program, which is already seeking applications from pregnancy resource centers to apply for state funding.

Critics say the state's second failed search for a qualified administrator underscores their concerns over funding anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers.

“The so-called ‘MOMs’ program was modeled on a Texas program that stole millions in taxpayer dollars for wildly inappropriate and illegal purposes," Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, said in a statement. "It’s no surprise to learn that anti-fraud measures have prevented the Iowa program from moving forward, as no contractors have been able to meet the basic standards set forth in legislation. As a result, Gov. Reynolds now wants to award contracts without following the required anti-fraud protections."

What are the MOMS program and crisis pregnancy centers?

As part of the Iowa GOP's anti-abortion priorities, lawmakers allocated $2 million in state funding over the last two legislative sessions for nonprofit facilities called pregnancy resource centers.

Also known as crisis pregnancy centers, these facilities are often religiously affiliated organizations that encourage women to keep their pregnancies or consider adoption. These are not medical clinics, but some do offer free ultrasounds. Most offer counseling or donated items, such as diapers, baby clothes, car seats and cribs, without cost.

There's an estimated 55 pregnancy resource centers across the state.

Under the program, these centers would receive state funding to offer what the law describes as "pregnancy support services." Lawmakers also directed the state to fund centers with "fatherhood" programming, directed at men involved with unintended pregnancies, such as parenting classes or help for fathers to find employment.

More: What are crisis pregnancy centers? And why is Iowa trying to fund them? What to know:

Proponents say the program will help Iowans overcome major hurdles faced during unintended pregnancies.

Critics have denounced this program, saying these facilities falsely pose as legitimate clinical settings and often mislead their clients in order to dissuade them from seeking an abortion.

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, it's a common tactic for centers to use emotional manipulation, including performing ultrasounds, to "shame pregnant people under the guise of informing."

“Right now Iowans desperately need access to real reproductive care services," Trone Garriott said. "It is a violation of the public trust to waste Iowa tax dollars on fake clinics. It is unacceptable that our Governor would bend the rules just to please her anti-choice political donors.”

Why did Iowa's first bid for a MOMS administrator fail?

The state had reopened the search for a MOMS program administrator earlier this year after the first search had failed to come up with sufficient applications to manage the program.

More: Administrator search for Iowa's anti-abortion centers fails to get 'sufficient' applicants

The sole bid was from a new nonprofit called the Iowa Pregnancy Care Network. According to a letter sent by the state that was first obtained by Iowa Public Radio, the network failed to meet specific requirements laid out in the request for proposals issued by the state earlier this year.

Among its deficiencies, the Iowa Pregnancy Care Network failed to provide an adequate plan that met "specific data needs" from Iowa's health and human services agency, the letter states.

The Iowa Pregnancy Care Network is affiliated with the Texas Pregnancy Care Network, which has run a Texas program called Alternatives to Abortion that is similar to Iowa's MOMS program.

But the Texas program has been plagued with reports of fraud and misuse of millions in taxpayer dollars. In addition, there's little data on the program to track how the money is being spent and the program's outcomes for the individuals its meant to aid.

Can Iowa pregnancy resource centers apply for funding?

Pregnancy resources centers can now apply for some of the $2 million in state funding approved for their use under a new bidding process opened by the state earlier this month.

The state plans to award multiple centers across the state, with total funds expected to be as much as $1 million annually. However, because funding is limited, state officials say centers selected for the program may be partially funded, depending on the requests the state receives.

HHS will announce awards Jan. 24. Centers awarded funding are expected to start providing services approved under the state contract on Feb. 28, according to the state.

It's unclear how many pregnancy resource centers across the state plan to apply for state funding. Some center staff who spoke to the Register say they have concerns about potential oversight attached to this funding.

Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa gets no bids for administrator for crisis pregnancy centers plan