Judge weighs Planned Parenthood Medicaid cutoff
A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday on whether a July federal law ending Medicaid reimbursements to providers that both offer abortions and receive over $800,000 in Medicaid funds should remain in effect during ongoing lawsuits. Planned Parenthood says an appeals court allowed the law to take effect in September, costing the organization $45 million that month as clinics covered Medicaid care out of pocket, and warns of closures and reduced access; seven states have temporarily backfilled some funding, but Minnesota is not among them. The case was brought by Planned Parenthood and affiliates in Massachusetts and Utah and a Maine provider against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
📌 Key Facts
- The July law targets providers that offer abortions and receive >$800,000/year in Medicaid reimbursements; an appeals court allowed it to take effect in September.
- Wednesday’s hearing will decide whether the law remains in force during litigation brought by Planned Parenthood and others against HHS.
- Planned Parenthood reports $45M in September costs borne out of pocket and says 20 affiliated clinics have closed since July; seven states have directed funds covering ~$200M of a ~$700M annual Medicaid spend.