On Monday, Planned Parenthood won a partial victory in its legal battle against the Trump administration over a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that sought to revoke Medicaid funding for the reproductive health care clinic. After Planned Parenthood filed its lawsuit on July 7th, US District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston issued a temporary restraining order that prevented the GOP from enforcing the cuts.
As Judge Talwani’s order had been set to expire on Monday, she granted a renewed preliminary injunction on that blocks the government from cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics that either don’t provide abortion care or don’t meet a threshold of at least $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in a given year.
It is not immediately evident exactly how many Planned Parenthood clinics would continue to receive Medicaid reimbursement and how many may not under the Federal Judge’s decision. However, the health care center originally estimated that federal defunding could result in an estimated 200 clinics being forced to close.
In a statement after the injunction was issued, Planned Parenthood expressed gratitude that the court recognized “the harm” caused by the bill. However, it reinforced its disappointment that some member organizations will lose federal funding, in turn “risking chaos, confusion, and harm for patients who could now be turned away when seeking lifesaving reproductive health care.”
The provision in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” would slash medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023. Even clinics that offer basic reproductive health care services like contraception, pregnancy tests, and STD testing would be affected.
Allowing the provision to take effect would have devastating consequences for those seeking basic reproductive health care nationwide, including increased rates of undiagnosed and untreated sexually transmitted diseases and cancer, according to Planned Parenthood.
Despite the discernible health care risks, lawyers for the government argued earlier this month that President Trump’s bill, “stops federal subsidies for Big Abortion.” Countering this view, Planned Parenthood argued in its lawsuit, “With no reason other than plain animus, the law will prevent Planned Parenthood Members from providing vital — indeed, lifesaving — care to more than one million patients.” The organization contends, “This statute is unconstitutional and will inflict irreparable harm on Planned Parenthood Members and their patients.”
