PolitiFact says accurate Planned Parenthood fact just ‘half true’

Not a single one.

But for the Georgia edition of PolitiFact, this otherwise accurate statement is apparently only “half true.”

The fact-check comes after the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian pro-life non-profit, said in a tweet, “Zero Planned Parenthood facilities are licensed to do mammograms. Planned Parenthood, women don’t need you.”

The tweet included an image of two maps of America, with the former showing the country’s 8,000-plus licensed mammogram facilities and the latter showing that none of these fall under Planned Parenthood’s ownership.

“You can’t go there and actually get a mammogram, which is what most people assume when they hear you can go there and get cancer screenings for breast health,” Casey Mattox, the Alliance Defending Freedom’s senior counsel, said. “That is, at best, misleading, if not directly false.”

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for determining which health care facilities meet the certification requirements mandated by the Mammography Quality Standards Act. The FDA also keeps a list of the more than 8,000 groups that are licensed to perform mammograms in America. This list, which is updated weekly, does not include any Planned Parenthood facilities.

A Planned Parenthood spokeswoman even confirmed in a statement to PolitiFact that it “does not provide mammograms at any of its health centers.”

Mattox is correct: Planned Parenthood does operate any licensed facilities.

But despite the evidence provided by the FDA and statements made by Planned Parenthood, PolitiFact apparently felt Mattox’s claim is “muddled.”

“Planned Parenthood provided 487,029 breast exams or breast care services in 2013,” PolitiFact reported, citing the most recent data available.

“Based on those clinical exams and a doctor assessing risk factors, the group refers patients for mammograms and/or specialist follow-ups for procedures such as biopsies and, in some cases, financial assistance,” the article added.

PolitiFact goes on to argue that in offering referral services, Planned Parenthood offers important breast care services, so Mattox’s claim is not quite accurate.

Mattox maintains, however, that thousands of other facilities in the United States offer referral services, and there is no reason for Planned Parenthood should serve as the go-to on this issue.

“It’s nothing unique to Planned Parenthood if all they are doing is a referral,” he said. “There are other health center options, with licenses that can do this directly on site. If you go to Planned Parenthood, you need to know you are not going to get that.”

The PolitiFact article continued, issuing its final ruling.

“Federal data and Planned Parenthood’s own documents back up the claim from the Alliance Defending Freedom,” the article reads. “However, that narrow bit of information ignores that Planned Parenthood physicians perform the clinical exams that lead to referrals for a mammogram or other specialized breast care.”

“The physical exam is a necessary step in the process of getting the screening, although ADF has a valid point that other physicians could provide that piece of the process,” it added. “That puts the claim in the realm that won’t make either side happy: partially accurate but misleading without additional details. We rate the claim Half True.”

Spokespersons for PolitiFact did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.

The fact-check comes on the heels a pro-life group releasing a series of undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood affiliates discussing methods for harvesting fetal tissue. The videos, which were produced by the Center for Medical Progress, have led to charges that Planned Parenthood may be breaking the law by profiting from those donations.

The tapes have also spurred lawmakers in Congress to launch multiple investigations into Planned Parenthood’s practices, and have inspired 13 states to move towards defunding the group.