- Federal Judge Indira Talwani halted a Republican spending bill provision affecting Planned Parenthood's access to Medicaid funding.
- The ruling allows Medicaid reimbursement for non-abortion services to continue nationwide.
- Planned Parenthood argues the bill targets them, impacting essential health services access.
SALT LAKE CITY — Planned Parenthood clinics around the country will continue to be reimbursed for non-abortion services through Medicaid, after a federal judge indefinitely halted a provision of the Republican spending bill that would have blocked clinics from being paid by the government-funded health insurance.
The same judge, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, paused portions of the law from taking effect last week, after the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah sued the Trump administration. That pause allowed some clinics, Utah's included, to continue to receive funding, but Talwani's latest order, issued Monday, applies nationwide and will remain in place while the case plays out.
"We are grateful that now all Planned Parenthood patients with Medicaid can come to their local health centers for the high-quality, essential care they need," said Shireen Ghorbani, interim president of Utah's Planned Parenthood. "Generations have relied on Planned Parenthood as experts in sexual and reproductive health care and as a welcoming and trusted provider in their communities. We will continue this fight in the courts to protect our patients' freedom to get the care they need."
Although Planned Parenthood clinics are known as abortion providers, abortions make up only a small fraction of the care provided at many clinics. They also provide cancer screenings, birth control and other reproductive care.
Federal law prohibits any federal funds from being used to pay for abortions, but by blocking Medicaid payments to other types of care, Planned Parenthood argued Congress was punishing clinics for the organization's advocacy for abortion rights.
"Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable," Talwani wrote. "In particular, restricting members' ability to provide health care services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs (sexually transmitted infections)."
While the pause is only preliminary, Talwani said she believed the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their allegation that Congress violated their First Amendment rights and rights of association.
Related:
Utah Planned Parenthood wins injunction in lawsuit against White House over funding
A federal judge extended an order blocking part of the recent spending bill that prevents Medicaid funds going to Planned Parenthood clinics.The spending bill didn't single out Planned Parenthood and its associated clinics by name, but it restricted Medicaid payments from going to nonprofit abortion providers that received at least $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023. The plaintiffs argued the bill was meant to target Planned Parenthood, something Talwani said was "easily ascertainable" because the bill created a "narrow class of entities consisting almost entirely of Planned Parenthood members."
Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, took issue with the initial court ruling and criticized Talwani's latest order, asking on his personal X account: "Was Congress supposed to seek permission from this judge before passing a law halting payments to Planned Parenthood? I can't seem to find that provision of the Constitution. Any thoughts on where one might find it?"
"Judge Indira Talwani says your tax dollars MUST continue funding Planned Parenthood, even after Congress cut them off, because of 'unintended pregnancies,'" he added from his official account. "Where is the 'too many babies' clause of the Constitution?"
The administration is expected to appeal the case, but the immediate next steps are unclear.
