Starting this week, thousands of Ohioans—and millions more across the U.S.—are facing a dramatic change in their access to reproductive health care. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGOH), which serves about 22,000 patients annually, can no longer accept Medicaid as payment. This abrupt shift follows a recent federal court decision that has sent shockwaves through health centers and communities nationwide.
On September 11, 2025, the First Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a preliminary injunction that had previously allowed PPGOH to continue accepting Medicaid, despite ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to block such funding. According to Spectrum News, the court’s ruling means that, effective Monday, PPGOH’s 12 health centers, its Virtual Health Center, and two surgical centers must turn away Medicaid as a form of payment. The move is not just a local issue—it’s part of a sweeping national policy shift affecting more than 1.1 million Medicaid patients who rely on Planned Parenthood clinics for basic reproductive health services.
The court’s decision stems from a provision in the July 2025 reconciliation bill, which the Trump administration is now cleared to enforce. As HuffPost reports, the provision blocks Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds because the organization offers abortion care services. This policy, now backed by the courts, has left patients and providers scrambling.
“Planned Parenthood has always been committed to providing health care regardless of a patient’s financial circumstances,” said Erica Wilson-Domer, President and CEO of PPGOH, in a statement to Spectrum News. “This loss of Medicaid funding will severely deepen the strain on our ability to serve patients with lower incomes. Despite complying with all laws and being a trusted public health partner, PPGOH is now barred from accepting Medicaid. As a result, cancers will go undetected, sexually transmitted infections will go untreated and patients will be left without the birth control they need—and patients will be forced to travel farther and wait longer as demand overwhelms other health centers.”
The impact of the decision is far-reaching. According to HuffPost, about half of all Planned Parenthood patients nationwide use Medicaid as their primary health insurance. Without Medicaid reimbursement, nearly 200 of the organization’s 600 health centers are at risk of closing, with more than 90% of those closures projected to occur in states where abortion remains legal. The closures would hit hardest in medically underserved and rural areas—60% of the at-risk centers are located in such communities—leaving already marginalized populations with even fewer options for care.
Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called the ruling “a devastating blow for patients across the country.” During a press call reported by HuffPost, she explained, “Cancers will go undetected, STIs will go untreated, and patients won’t get the birth control that they need to plan their families and futures. Patients will have to travel further to get care and wait longer to get it. As demand surges at health centers, Black, brown and rural communities will be hit the hardest.”
PPGOH has emphasized that, despite the financial strain, its doors remain open. The organization is offering Prompt Pay discounts, payment plans, and transparent pricing to help patients continue accessing care. The loss of Medicaid funding, however, does not affect abortion services directly. Abortion remains legal in Ohio up to 21 weeks and six days, and Medicaid restrictions had already prevented coverage for abortion in most cases due to the federal Hyde Amendment. This amendment bans the use of federal funds for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnant person’s life is in danger—a point often misunderstood in the heated debate over federal funding.
Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, expressed the organization’s determination to keep fighting. “This isn’t over. Patients across the country should have the right to visit their trusted Planned Parenthood provider for birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and other essential care,” Blauvelt said. “This devastating decision will severely hinder their access to those lifesaving services. We’ll keep fighting to ensure all people are able to use their health insurance, including Medicaid, at their chosen provider. Health care should be a human right in this country. The Trump administration must stop playing politics with Americans’ health care.”
The legal battle is far from finished. As HuffPost notes, oral arguments on the preliminary injunction appeal are scheduled for November 2025, and Planned Parenthood is actively evaluating its legal options. Peyton Humphreville, a senior staff attorney at Planned Parenthood, told reporters that while the organization had considered allowing some affiliates to opt out of abortion services to maintain Medicaid funding, this is no longer feasible in light of the court’s ruling. The original plan would have allowed certain affiliates to stop providing abortion while another Planned Parenthood center in the same area continued to do so, but this workaround is now off the table.
Dominique Lee, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, highlighted the confusion and distress among patients. “It is not a hypothetical; it is actually happening now. And if Planned Parenthood health centers close their doors, people will suffer, people will die,” Lee said. “Here’s the truth: there is no backup plan. There’s no one waiting in the wings to take care of our patients. Planned Parenthood is the safety net.” Lee cited patients who have found themselves unable to book appointments with new providers for up to six months, underscoring the critical role Planned Parenthood plays in the health care safety net.
The financial implications are stark. Medicaid is the largest payer of reproductive health care in the U.S., subsidizing 75% of all publicly funded family planning services, including Pap smears, high blood pressure treatment, and screenings for anxiety and depression. Yet Medicaid reimbursements for providers remain extremely low, further disincentivizing clinics from accepting Medicaid patients and making it even harder for those patients to find care elsewhere.
Since the Trump administration took office, more than 20 Planned Parenthood health centers have closed or announced their closing, all due to federal funding losses, including the decision to cut $65.8 million in family planning grants under Title X. This federal program is dedicated to providing free or discounted family-planning services to approximately 4 million low-income Americans each year.
Amidst the turmoil, Planned Parenthood’s mission remains focused on supporting people of color, those with low incomes, and the LGBTQ+ community—populations that already face barriers to accessing quality health care. The organization urges patients with questions to call 1-800-230-PLAN for assistance with payment options and to locate care.
As the legal and political battles continue, the future of reproductive health care for millions of Americans remains uncertain. For now, providers and patients alike are left navigating a new and challenging landscape, hoping that access to essential care will not become a casualty of political maneuvering.
