Wisconsin Planned Parenthood pauses abortions amid federal Medicaid funding cut
Share and Follow

MADISON, Wis. — 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.

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.

This undated photo shows the Madison South Health Center that is owned and operated by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, in Madison.

This undated photo shows the Madison South Health Center that is owned and operated by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, in Madison.

(AP Photo/Kevin Wang)

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.”

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.

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.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin serves about 50,000 people across the state. About 60% of them are covered by Medicaid, the organization said.

In 2024, Illinois clinicians provided approximately 92,710 abortions, down slightly (less than 1%) from 93,590 in 2023, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute.

From January to May 2025, Illinois clinicians performed approximately 37,400 abortions, down from 40,920 abortions for the same time period in 2024.

In 2024, approximately 36,670 patients from out of state sought treatment in Illinois (40% of all patients), including approximately 3,530 patients from Wisconsin.

Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

ABC7 Chicago’s Data Team contribued to this report.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Harry and Meghan 'have to make money' to survive, insists Sussex camp

Financial Independence Crucial for Harry and Meghan’s Future, Affirms Sussex Representatives

In a recent defense of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a source…
Lisette Monroe lost her beloved sister to murder. She hopes an execution will bring some peace

Seeking Closure: Lisette Monroe Hopes Execution Brings Peace After Sister’s Tragic Murder

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In 1988, Lisette Monroe was a young mother…
The 2-hour 'Stranger Things' finale will be in theaters on New Year's. Here's how to get tickets.

Experience the Epic 2-Hour ‘Stranger Things’ Finale on the Big Screen This New Year’s: Ticket Guide Inside

Screenings of the ‘Stranger Things’ finale in theaters are rare, with participation…
Duval school consolidations delayed amid strong community pushback and funding hopes

Duval School Consolidations Postponed: Community Opposition and Funding Prospects Lead to Delay

Plans to consolidate two sets of schools in Jacksonville have been delayed,…
NYU student brutally-shoved to the ground in random NYC assault

Shocking NYC Assault: NYU Student Targeted in Unprovoked Attack

In a disturbing incident that underscores the unpredictable nature of urban life,…
The simple tricks and supplements that have cut my biological age

Reverse Aging Naturally: Proven Tricks and Supplements to Rewind Your Biological Clock

Four years ago, I took an unusual step: I wrote a letter…
Illegal immigrant allegedly driving drunk at extreme speed killed woman in violent crash: DHS

Tragic High-Speed Crash: Alleged Drunk Driving by Undocumented Immigrant Claims Woman’s Life, Says DHS

A tragic incident involving an undocumented immigrant has sparked widespread anger over…
Bodycam shows 'Slender Man' stabber captured by police after escaping group home

Attorney Advocates for Slender Man Stabbing Defendant’s Transfer Back to Mental Health Facility Following Jail Escape: Report

The legal representative for the woman involved in the infamous 2014 Slender…