A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with blocking Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, a decision that could force up to 200 clinics to close. The ruling from the First US Circuit Court of Appeals lifts a preliminary injunction that had prevented the administration from enforcing a provision in its tax and spending bill that excludes Planned Parenthood from Medicaid for one year.
Planned Parenthood estimates that 1.1 million patients who rely on Medicaid could lose access to services such as cancer screenings, STI tests, and contraception. Alexis McGill Johnson, chief executive of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, described the ruling as a 'backdoor abortion ban' and warned that over 60% of at-risk clinics are in rural or medically underserved areas.
Federal law already prohibits using Medicaid funds for abortions. However, anti-abortion activists have long sought to exclude Planned Parenthood from the programme due to its role as a major abortion provider. Planned Parenthood clinics account for nearly 40% of all US abortions, according to a 2024 report.
During a press call, McGill Johnson mentioned that some regional affiliates had considered stopping abortion services in states where it remains legal to preserve Medicaid funding, but later clarified that those plans are no longer under consideration. A spokesperson emphasised that Planned Parenthood will continue to provide abortion care wherever it is lawful.
Litigation is ongoing, with the First Circuit set to hear further arguments in the coming weeks. More than 80 million Americans use Medicaid, and 11% of female beneficiaries aged 15–49 who receive family-planning services attend Planned Parenthood, according to the non-profit KFF.
