New York Attorney General Joins Coalition to Block Law Targeting Planned Parenthood

Strategic Insights -

New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with a coalition of 21 other attorneys general and the state of Pennsylvania, has joined forces to block a provision in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBA) that targets Planned Parenthood and restricts Medicaid funding for non-profit health care clinics that provide abortions. The coalition argues that the government's intent is clear: to defund Planned Parenthood and silence its advocacy, leaving millions of low-income individuals without access to essential health care services, including cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and family planning services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The coalition is suing to block a provision in the OBBA that prohibits Medicaid funding from going to non-profit health care clinics, almost exclusively applying to Planned Parenthood clinics, that provide abortions.
  • Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the government's intent is to defund Planned Parenthood and silence its advocacy, which would have devastating consequences for low-income and underserved communities.
  • In 2023 alone, 89,000 New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid received care at Planned Parenthood clinics, which provided tens of thousands of STI tests, cancer screenings, and contraceptive services.
  • The coalition argues that the provision in OBBA is unconstitutional, retaliatory, and deeply harmful to public health, violating several constitutional provisions, including the First Amendment, the Spending Clause, and the Constitution's ban on bills of attainder.
  • Planned Parenthood is a core part of New York's Medicaid provider network, and cutting off funding would devastate access, especially for low-income New Yorkers, young people, and people of color.
  • The coalition is seeking a court order declaring the defunding provision unconstitutional and halting its implementation.

Statistics:

  • 89,000 New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid received care at Planned Parenthood clinics in 2023.
  • Tens of thousands of STI tests, cancer screenings, and contraceptive services were provided at Planned Parenthood clinics in 2023.
  • Planned Parenthood clinics provide essential health care services, including cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and family planning services, to millions of low-income individuals.

Sources:

  • "Office of the New York Attorney General": New York Attorney General Letitia James Joins Coalition to Block Law Targeting Planned Parenthood, [July 2023]