Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Resumes Abortion Services After Funding Shift

Tue Oct 28 2025 00:08:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Following a month-long pause due to federal funding cuts, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has resumed scheduling abortions after adapting to new federal regulations. The organization’s leadership maintains confidence in patient access despite changes in their operational status.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has resumed scheduling abortions after a nearly month-long hiatus caused by federal funding cuts tied to Trump's spending bill. By relinquishing its status as an 'essential community provider,' the organization can now qualify for Medicaid funds without impacting the costs of services. Planned Parenthood has warned about potential clinic closures nationwide due to similar federal law restrictions and emphasized the complexities of the changing abortion landscape across states.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin resumed scheduling abortions on Monday after a nearly monthlong pause due to federal Medicaid funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill that took effect at the beginning of October.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it was able to resume scheduling abortions as of noon on Monday because it no longer fits the definition of a “prohibited entity” under the new federal law and can receive Medicaid funds.

The organization said it dropped its designation as an “essential community provider” as defined under the Affordable Care Act. Dropping this designation will not change the cost for abortions or other services nor affect the organization’s funding, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin president and CEO Tanya Atkinson stated.

Atkinson noted, “At this point, in all of our research and analysis, we really shouldn’t see much of an impact on patient access. If relinquishing this does ultimately impact our bottom line, then we will have to understand what that path forward is.”

A National Fight Over Abortion Funding

Abortion funding has faced significant scrutiny across the U.S., particularly targeting affiliates of Planned Parenthood, the largest provider. The abortion landscape has undergone frequent changes since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that granted states the authority to ban abortion. Currently, twelve states enforce total bans, while four additional states implement bans after around six weeks of gestation.

Planned Parenthood has warned that nearly half its clinics could face closure under the new federal law banning Medicaid funding for services beyond abortion.

In Wisconsin, where abortion remains legal but access is limited due to several laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, Planned Parenthood was the only state affiliate to halt abortion services due to the recent federal legislation.

Owing to various state abortion regulations, Planned Parenthood affiliates are adapting in diverse ways; for instance, Arizona's affiliates have stopped accepting Medicaid while still performing abortions.

Impact on Wisconsin Abortion Clinics

The 26-day pause in abortion services compelled women in southeastern Wisconsin to seek alternatives, such as traveling to Chicago, three hours away from local Planned Parenthood facilities.

Affiliated Medical Services and Care for All also provide abortion services in Milwaukee. However, Atkinson was unable to provide estimates on how many women were impacted by the temporary suspension.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin serves around 50,000 individuals; approximately 60% are covered by Medicaid. Therefore, the priority was to maintain Medicaid funding, which necessitated relinquishing the essential community provider status as per Atkinson.

Wisconsin is involved in a multi-state federal lawsuit contesting this recent legislative provision. A federal appeals court ruled in September that the government may suspend payments while the court addresses this provision.

Ramifications for Medicaid

On September 29, a court filing from the U.S. Health and Human Services indicated that family planning organizations could continue to bill Medicaid if they renounced their tax-exempt status or the “essential community provider” designation. By giving up the latter status, Planned Parenthood no longer qualifies as a “prohibited entity” under federal law and can still receive federal Medicaid funding. However, the organization will not forfeit its tax-exempt status.

Originally, the “essential community provider” status was designed to facilitate billing with private insurers. Atkinson highlighted the law's “nuanced provision,” asserting that relinquishing this designation should not hinder Planned Parenthood’s ability to offer abortions and other services.

Planned Parenthood provides various services, including cancer screenings and testing for sexually transmitted infections. While federal Medicaid funds already exclude abortion expenditures, affiliates heavily depend on Medicaid for operational funding, and services beyond abortion are poised to expand under the new regulation.