Planned Parenthood Sues to Stop Ban on Medicaid Reimbursements

Two Planned Parenthood affiliates have filed a proposed class action lawsuit in an effort to stop state officials from ending Medicaid reimbursements to the organization.

The plaintiffs, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri and Planned Parenthood of St. Louis Region, allege that cutting off the funding is “unlawful” and “unwarranted” and a “politically motivated decision by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.” They say that the state’s decision would deprive up to 500 Kansas residents from getting access to basic family planning and preventative healthcare services.

According to the complaint, state officials pushed to end Medicaid reimbursements based on now-discredited YouTube videos posted by anti-abortion activists, among other allegations regarding fraudulent Medicaid claims and solid waste violations. The videos imply that some Planned Parenthood affiliates – not those in Kansas or Missouri, however – profited from the sale of fetal tissue.

Planned Parenthood has repeatedly called the videos “heavily edited” and maintains that, while some patients donate tissue for medical research, neither the organization nor the patients make any money off the donations. In fact, the complaint says that government officials in 12 states looked into the allegations and found no wrongful conduct.

The plaintiffs say that the additional claims – this time aimed directly at Overland Park healthcare center for its alleged failure to comply with a solid waste inspection – are false and “provide no basis for termination from the Medicaid program.” Furthermore, the complaint points out that the claims of Medicaid fraud are “unfounded” and do not pertain to Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri or Planned Parthood of St. Lous Region – but rather Planned Parenthood affiliates in other states.

The lawsuit claims that the state’s actions violate federal code that allows patients to see their provider of choice and seeks an injunction to block the termination of funds. If an injunction is not put in place, the two Planned Parenthood affiliates will stop receiving Medicaid reimbursements as of May 10.