Introduction to the Issue
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will stop scheduling patients for abortions starting next week as it works to find a way to provide the service in the face of Medicaid funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill, the nonprofit said Thursday.
Abortion funding across the U.S. has been under siege, particularly Planned Parenthood affiliates, which are the biggest provider. Wisconsin appears to be the first state where Planned Parenthood is pausing abortions because of the new law.
Background on Planned Parenthood Funding
The organization warned earlier this year that about half its clinics that provide abortion could be closed as a result of a ban on Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood for services other than abortion.
The measure was part of the tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in July. Initially, a judge said reimbursements must continue, but a federal appeals court this month said the government could halt the payments while a court challenge to the provision moves ahead.
Planned Parenthood services include cancer screenings and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. Federal Medicaid money was already not paying for abortion, but affiliates relied on Medicaid to stay afloat.
Impact on Wisconsin
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said in a statement that it is trying to see as many patients as possible between now and Tuesday. The federal law takes effect Wednesday. It is not scheduling patients beyond that date and the organization believes the move will allow it to continue seeing other Medicaid patients. The organization said it was working with providers across the state to make sure patients are referred quickly and receive timely care.
It is also considering taking legal action, the group said.
“Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion, as soon and as we are able to,” Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin President and CEO Tanya Atkinson said in the statement. “In the meantime, we are pursuing every available option through the courts, through operations, and civic engagement.”
National Abortion Landscape
The abortion landscape has been shifting frequently since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that allowed states to ban abortion. Currently, 12 states do not allow it at any stage of pregnancy, with limited exceptions, and four more ban it after about six weeks’ gestation.
The bans have resulted in more women traveling for abortion and an increased reliance on abortion pills. Prescribers in states where they’re allowed have been shipping the pills to places where abortion is banned, a practice that is facing some legal challenges and is expected to attract more.
Neighboring States’ Response
Megan Jeyifo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund, said she had an abortion in Wisconsin years ago. She called the funding cuts a “backdoor abortion ban” in Wisconsin and said she hopes Illinois will be a “beacon of access” for patients from Wisconsin.
“We will not abandon people when they need us,” she said.
Dr. Allison Cowett, medical director for Family Planning Associates, said they “anticipate a large influx of patients from Wisconsin.” Both she and Jefiyo said they expect their organizations to increase staffing in anticipation of patients traveling from Wisconsin.
“Illinois is ready and will be able to accept patients,” said Adrienne White-Faines, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. “The challenge is that this is not sustainable.”
Advocates have long described Illinois as an oasis for abortion access for swaths of the Midwest and South that have abortion bans. Nearly a quarter of all out-of-state abortions took place in Illinois in 2024, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion access. About 35,000 patients traveled to Illinois for an abortion last year, accounting for 39% of all abortions provided in the state, according to the report.
Wisconsin’s Abortion History
The Wisconsin Supreme Court in July struck down the state’s 1849 near-total ban on abortion, saying it was superseded by newer state laws regulating the procedure.
Wisconsin’s abortion ban was nullified in 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide. Legislators never officially repealed it, however, and conservatives argue that the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs ruling in 2022 reactivated it.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin stopped providing abortions after that ruling for 15 months before resuming them as the lawsuit over the state law played out. It has been providing abortions at three clinics in Wisconsin for the past two years.
Affiliated Medical Services and Care for All also provide abortions at clinics in Milwaukee.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin serves about 50,000 people, and about 60% of them are covered by Medicaid, the organization said.
Conclusion
The pause on abortions by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is a significant development in the ongoing debate over abortion access in the United States. As the organization navigates the challenges posed by Medicaid funding cuts, it remains committed to providing reproductive health care services to those in need. The situation in Wisconsin highlights the complexities and uncertainties surrounding abortion laws and funding, and the impact on individuals and communities.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin pausing abortions?
A: The organization is pausing abortions due to Medicaid funding cuts resulting from a federal law that bans Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood for services other than abortion. - Q: How will this affect patients in Wisconsin?
A: Patients in Wisconsin may need to travel to other states, such as Illinois, to access abortion services. - Q: What other services does Planned Parenthood provide?
A: Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of reproductive health care services, including cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and contraceptive services. - Q: What is the current state of abortion laws in the United States?
A: The abortion landscape is constantly evolving, with 12 states currently banning abortion at any stage of pregnancy and four more banning it after about six weeks’ gestation. - Q: How can individuals support access to abortion services?
A: Individuals can support organizations like Planned Parenthood and advocate for policies that protect and expand access to reproductive health care services.
