The case could have opened the door to “defunding” Planned Parenthood. Not today.
On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to hear a case that could have opened the door for states to try to “defund” Planned Parenthood. The case tried to remove Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid health care provider in Kansas and Louisiana.
The Supreme Court’s decision means the lower court’s ruling stands — which protects Medicaid patients who rely on Planned Parenthood for birth control, cancer screenings, and STD testing and treatment.
The case is a reminder: Not only is it dangerous to block care at Planned Parenthood, but it’s also deeply unpopular.
Poll after poll shows that American people overwhelmingly support Planned Parenthood and strongly oppose these attacks. Just last month, voters made clear that they want more access to health care — not less — when they voted to flip the House and elect leaders who will protect our sexual and and reproductive rights.
“We are pleased that lower court rulings protecting patients remain in place. As a doctor, I have seen what’s at stake when people cannot access the care they need, and when politics gets in the way of people making their own health care choices. We won’t stop fighting for every patient who relies on Planned Parenthood for life-saving, life-changing care.”
— Dr. Leana Wen, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
We already know what happens when politicians block access to critical health care at Planned Parenthood: health outcomes worsen, and women suffer.
Nationwide, safety-net clinics in 67 percent of counties would have had to double their capacity in order to make up for the Planned Parenthood patients who would have been blocked from access to health care.
Those who’d be hurt the most are people who already face systemic barriers to accessing health care because of racist and discriminatory policies — especially people of color, people with low to moderate incomes, and people who live in rural areas.
- In Iowa, STD rates skyrocketed after politicians forced Planned Parenthood to close four health centers.
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In Texas, 30,000 fewer women accessed services after the state blocked women from Planned Parenthood health centers.
With about a dozen cases on abortion heading to the Supreme Court, Planned Parenthood's fight isn't over.
We’re using this victory to fuel us forward even more wins for reproductive rights in 2019 and beyond.
Help Us Win More Victories for Reproductive Rights: Donate Now!
From the administration’s dangerous gag rule to its racist immigration policy, we won’t stop fighting until every person has the health care they need — no matter their income, race, gender, sexuality, or citizenship status.
Donate now to help us keep up the fight.
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