Introduction to the Crisis
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.
Background on the Funding Cuts
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 Clinics and Patients
The remaining Planned Parenthood clinics in Louisiana – where abortion is banned – are scheduled to shut down at the end of this month.
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.”
Shifting 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.
Wisconsin’s Abortion Law
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. The same day it ruled in that case, the court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin asking it to find the law unconstitutional.
Wisconsin’s abortion ban was in effect until 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide nullified it. Legislators never officially repealed it, however, and conservatives argued that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe 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.
Scope of Services and Patient Base
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin serves about 50,000 people across the state. About 60% of them are covered by Medicaid, the organization said.
By SCOTT BAUER and GEOFF MULVIHILL, Associated Press
Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Originally Published: September 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM EDT
Conclusion
The pause on abortion services by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin due to Medicaid funding cuts is a significant development in the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States. The move highlights the challenges faced by reproductive health care providers in the face of changing laws and funding restrictions. As the landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen how organizations like Planned Parenthood will adapt to provide essential services to their patients.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin pausing abortion services?
A: Due to Medicaid funding cuts as a result of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill. - Q: How many clinics in Wisconsin provide abortion services?
A: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been providing abortions at three clinics in the state. - Q: What other services does Planned Parenthood offer besides abortion?
A: Services include cancer screenings and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. - Q: How many people does Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin serve?
A: About 50,000 people across the state, with 60% of them covered by Medicaid.
