LA Planned Parenthood warns that Trump administration cuts to Medicaid will endanger lives

Leaders of Planned Parenthood and local elected officials put out a warning Monday that lives would be at risk if the federal government pulled Medicaid funding that provides healthcare access to thousands of Southern Californians.

Later that day, a federal judge issued a ruling that restored reimbursements to some Planned Parenthood clinics — in Utah and some other states — that do not provide abortion services except under certain circumstances.

That does not include California.

"The court's decision today may allow the Trump Administration to move forward with their cruel, politically motivated plan to defund Planned Parenthood health centers, at least for now, in states like California where abortion is legal," Sue Dunlap, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, said in a statement.

"Anti-abortion politicians haven't been able to ban abortion nationwide, and so they are trying to force us to close our doors," she continued. "But we're not backing down and we're not giving up."

The federal budget bill that went into effect July 4 — also known as President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — bars Medicaid reimbursements for a year to nonprofit organizations that provide elective abortions.

Planned Parenthood serves more than 1.3 million patients across the state, more than 80% of whom are on Medicaid, known here as Medi-Cal, authorities said.

Congress has long restricted clinics and hospitals from using federal funds to pay for most abortions, but Planned Parenthood and other health organizations have used the reimbursements to help provide other forms of healthcare to patients who rely on Medicaid or Medi-Cal, including including cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing, prenatal care and birth control.

Jodi Hicks, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates in California, said Monday that the block on reimbursements was aimed directly at states like California, where access to abortion is protected.

“ Politicians in Washington have imposed economic sanctions on a state like California because of our values,” she said.

The background

Planned Parenthood provides services through nearly 600 clinics in 47 states and Washington, D.C., according to court documents.

After the budget bill passed, Planned Parenthood organizations looked for relief in federal court, arguing that the Trump administration had violated their constitutional rights and denied them equal protection under the law.

While stressing that the ban on Medicaid reimbursements would have significant consequences in all area where Planned Parenthood provides healthcare, the organizations argued that it definitely should not apply in places where the clinics do not provide elective abortions.

A federal judge in Massachusetts agreed, and granted a preliminary injunction.

On Monday in Los Angeles, a Planned Parenthood spokesperson said clinics in California could lose a half-billion dollars without Medi-Cal reimbursements.

LA. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said more than 850,000 residents in her district, which stretches from Culver City to Carson, rely on Medi-Cal.

“ People will die… That's unequivocal,” Mitchell said.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell, whose district stretches from Culver City to Carson, represents over 850,000 residents who rely on Medi-Cal.

(

Aiko Offner / LAist

)

The court ruling notes that if the clinics are barred from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements for their services, their operators anticipate reducing hours and programs, cutting staff members and eventually closing some health centers.

“Shutting down health centers threatens the wellbeing of Black and Brown communities, low income families, and countless others who rely on Planned Parenthood as their only source of care,” Mitchell said. “ These kinds of services are literally life sustaining and lifesaving."

Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said without Medi-Cal, people would likely delay treatment for medical issues until there's an emergency.

Emergency services come at a much higher cost to taxpayers.

“ When we shrink the capacity of Planned Parenthood to continue their work, we're not just cutting benefits. We're not just cutting budgets,” she said. “We're cutting lives short.”

Dr. Barbara Ferrer spoke to the public health impacts of Medi-Cal cuts to Planned Parenthood. Leaders, as well as Representative Kamlager-Dove and Supervisor Mitchell stand behind her.

(

Aiko Offner / LAist

)

The status of the funding

The preliminary injunction issued Monday allows some clinics to continue receiving Medicaid reimbursements. To qualify, the clinic must either not provide abortions or did not receive more than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in the fiscal year that ended in 2023.

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles does not qualify.

Right after the budget bill passed, clinics in L.A. County continued to provide care without cutting services, staff, or hours. And that's the message they're sticking with — for now.

"My message to Planned Parenthood Los Angeles patients is clear: Our doors remain open," said Dunlap of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.

In her statement, Dunlap noted that her organization provides more than 260,000 patient visits every year for healthcare services, including birth control, cancer screenings and abortion.

Serena Josel, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, said the current plan is to continue to provide care without any additional cost to our patients.

"Truthfully, we don’t know how long that will be sustainable," Josel said.