BY KIRSTEN ANDERSEN

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 14, 2013 (LifeSiteNews) – The District of Columbia’s Obamacare-mandated health insurance exchange has awarded Planned Parenthood a $375,000 grant aimed at helping the abortion giant steer its clients toward the program.

The abortion provider was one of 35 exchange-endorsed “Health Link Assisters” selected by the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority to receive a combined $6.4 million in grants, which will pay for in-house “experts” on Obamacare to promote the health insurance exchanges to their clients. 

Studies estimate that there are only about 40,000 uninsured people living in the District, which falls short of the 100,000 required to make the exchange viable.  For the exchange to work as intended, D.C. will have to be aggressive about recruitment.  Exchange officials say groups like Planned Parenthood will be instrumental in spreading the word.

“DC Health Link Assisters are a critical part of our enrollment efforts,” said Mila Kofman, executive director of the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority.  “These organizations are trusted voices and sources of information in their communities and they will be our boots on the ground.”

Authority Chairwoman Diane C. Lewis said, “We are excited to create these partnerships with trusted organizations that have deep roots in the communities that make up the District of Columbia. The new health law offers essential benefits that will improve the health and security of the residents of our city. It is critically important that we have trained experts available to help ensure those benefits reach the people who need them.”

The grants range in size from $80,000 to $400,000.  Planned Parenthood’s was one of the largest -- only two grant recipients received more funding than the abortion giant.

President Obama had asked Planned Parenthood to promote his health care law during an appearanceat the organization’s gala in April.

"I'm here to ... ask for your help, because we need to get the word out," he told Planned Parenthood supporters gathered in Washington. "We need you to tell your patients, your friends, your neighbors, your family members what the health care law means for them."

"Make sure that they know that there are plans out there right now that cover the cost of contraception and preventative care free of charge," he said. "We've got to spread the word, particularly among women, particularly among young women, who are the ones who are most likely to benefit from these laws."