Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) has announced it will stop scheduling abortion appointments after September 30, a decision driven by new provisions in a recently enacted Republican budget law. This move marks a significant shift for an organization that has long been at the forefront of reproductive health care in the state.
Under the new budget, organizations that provide abortions will be barred from receiving Medicaid reimbursements if they continue to offer such services beyond the end of this month. Specifically, any organization that received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds during the fiscal year 2023 and offers abortions will face a one-year suspension from Medicaid.
PPWI is reportedly the first Planned Parenthood affiliate to cease abortion services in response to these new regulations, and it could also be the first to halt such services since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, in a state where abortion remains legal.
The situation has arisen after Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), confirmed during a September 12 press call that the organization had created an option for affiliates to stop providing abortions to maintain Medicaid funding. However, a spokesperson later clarified that this option was not actively being considered at that moment. Complications arose when a federal appellate court ruling allowed the Trump administration to enforce the budget law’s “defund” provision, meaning that Planned Parenthood affiliates could lose Medicaid eligibility simply for being part of the organization, regardless of the services they provide.
Internally, PPWI described the suspension of abortion services as a “pause,” though it remains unclear whether this means that such services could resume in the future. The organization has stated that it is committed to providing the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion, as soon as circumstances permit. CEO Tanya Atkinson reiterated this commitment, stating, “Our commitment is unwavering: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive health care—including abortion—as soon as we are able to.”
Despite being legally available, abortion access in Wisconsin has faced significant challenges. Following the Dobbs ruling, there was a 15-month period during which abortion services were essentially unavailable in the state. While the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in July that abortion is indeed legal, several restrictions remain in place, complicating access for those seeking care.
Currently, PPWI operates 22 health centers across Wisconsin, with three providing abortion services. However, one of these centers only offers abortion pills, while the other two provide both pills and in-clinic procedures. The halt in abortion services may lead to increased demand at the two independent abortion clinics in Milwaukee or force patients to seek care in neighboring states such as Minnesota or Illinois. Notably, Wisconsin law prohibits telemedicine prescriptions for abortion pills, although patients may still obtain the pills virtually from providers in other states.
Megan Jeyifo, executive director of the Chicago Abortion Fund, expressed the organization’s readiness to respond to the increasing demand for abortion services following PPWI’s decision. “Unfortunately, we as a movement—and particularly in Illinois, as the largest receiving state in the country—are not unfamiliar with rapid landscape shifts that shrink access to essential healthcare and disrupt people’s lives,” Jeyifo stated. She emphasized that the Chicago Abortion Fund and its partner clinics are committed to ensuring that everyone can access the abortion care they need.
Jeyifo further criticized the recent legislative changes, stating, “We need to be crystal clear: The collapse in Wisconsin is the direct fallout of Donald Trump’s so-called ‘big, beautiful bill,’ a backdoor abortion ban playing out in real time.” She reaffirmed Illinois’ commitment to providing compassionate care in the face of these restrictive policies.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, the political arm of PPWI, warned that the “defund” provision would put nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers at risk of closure, including those in Wisconsin. They estimated that if implemented, the budget law could lead to 50,000 Wisconsinites losing access to essential health care services. The situation has already resulted in the closure of one PPWI clinic in Delavan earlier this summer, which was met with celebration from anti-abortion groups but went largely unannounced by PPWI.
The Hyde Amendment has long prevented federal funds from being used to pay for abortions except in specific circumstances such as rape, incest, or to save the life of the pregnant person. As a result, abortion providers typically only receive Medicaid reimbursement for non-abortion services, including birth control, cancer screenings, and other essential health services. This year, nearly 40 Planned Parenthood clinics have closed nationally, with more closures expected, further jeopardizing access to basic health care for vulnerable populations.
After President Trump signed the budget bill in early July, Planned Parenthood swiftly filed a lawsuit to block the “defund” provision, securing temporary injunctions that would preserve Medicaid eligibility for its affiliates while litigation was ongoing. However, on September 11, the First US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned these injunctions, allowing the “defund” provision to take effect. This decision extends beyond Planned Parenthood affiliates, impacting at least two large independent abortion providers who are now also ineligible for Medicaid funding, threatening their ability to continue operating.
PPFA has characterized the “defund” provision as a “backdoor” abortion ban, highlighting its potential to severely limit access to care even in states where abortion remains legal. A spokesperson from PPFA indicated that the First Circuit ruling made it impossible for any of its affiliates to bill Medicaid, stating, “It is the act of being a Planned Parenthood that makes them ineligible in the eyes of the bill.”
As the situation develops, the implications for reproductive health care access in Wisconsin remain profound, with advocates urging continued support for the fight against restrictive laws that threaten essential health services.
