August 11, 2016 State Auditor's Office Attn: IAS. PO. Box 12067 Austin, TX 78711-2067 BY MAIL and SAO website 1n Regarding Health and Human Grant Award to the Heidi Group Progress Texas respectfully requests that the Texas State Auditor's Office investigate whether Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) violated state law by misusing government funds to award the Heidi Group, a known anti-abortion organization that provides no health care services, $1.6 million to provide women's health care services, The facts surrounding this improperly awarded grant are outlined in a series of press reports, and accompanying records published in multiple news outlets across the state on August 10, 2016." Heidi Group Provides No Health Car vices Carol Everett, the leader of the Heidi Group, serves on the Women's Health Advisory ‘Committee, which provides input to HHSC on the restructuring of the new Healthy Texas ‘Women (HTW) program. Though other organizations with representatives on this committee received grant awards, the Heidi Group is the only such organization that is not a health care provider. At $1.6 million, the Heidi Group is the second largest recipient of state funding from the HTW program, far exceeding the amount awarded to the aforementioned health care providers. According to a 2015 version of the Heidi Group's website obtained by the Austin American Statesman: “The Heidi Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping girls and women in unplanned pregnancies make positive, life affirming choices. We believe that abortion is " Andrea Grimes, Anti-Abortion Group Set to Receive Sizeable State Contract for Women’s Health Services, Texas Observer, August 10, 2016 (enclosed); Julie Chang, $1.6 Milion Texas Women's Health (Care Grant Raises Questions, Austin American Statesman, August 10, 2016 (enclosed); Edgar Walters, 7 7 n's Healt August 10, 2016 (enclosed Progress Texas + 600 San Marcos St. Suite 110 + Austin, TX 78702 =ending the life of a baby ands, therefore, contrary to God's wil.” The anti-abortion group, which was founded by Everett in 1995, changed its mission statement on its website on July 26, 2016, mere weeks before the announcement of ts award? The Heidi Group has no capacity to provide women’s health care services, which is the express purpose of the HTW program. The group employs no doctors nor does it operate any health clinics. Moreover, the group has no record of coordinating the provision of health care services among health care providers in the state We believe the facts outlined above warrant a State Auditor's Office investigation into whether ‘Texas Health and Human Services Commission award of $1.6 million in state funds to Carol Everett and the Heidi Group violates Texas law. sincerely, _ Lucy Stein Advocacy Director Progress Texas Encls. 2 See screengrab of Heidi Group "What We Do" tab of website with site updated on 7.26 16" in footer (enclosed),