Planned Parenthood mobilized on Capitol Hill as they confronted Republican efforts to maintain the organization’s exclusion from federal funding. Last year, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act blocked Medicaid billing for services like contraception and cancer screenings at their health centers. The loss amounted to more than $700 million in annual funding. This provision will expire on July 4, potentially restoring hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups are urging Republicans to extend the provision.
To counter these efforts, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its regional affiliates organized a lobbying event with over 250 supporters, including patient storytellers. Jess Clem, a patient advocate from Minnesota, emphasized the importance of sharing personal stories to influence lawmakers, saying, “Democrats are doing all they can, and using patient stories is among the most powerful methods available right now.” Their lobbying coincided with the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of the FY 2027 HHS funding bill with a provision to “defund” Planned Parenthood.
House Republicans are also considering the reconciliation process to permanently “defund” the organization by preventing Medicaid users from accessing its services. Nora Walsh-DeVries, PPFA’s Vice President of Political and Legislative Affairs, stressed that defunding Planned Parenthood is unpopular and harmfully impacts health and safety. “The threat is very real,” she stated, noting the potential of a lame-duck Congress later in the year, “We just can’t let our foot off the gas.”
Walsh-DeVries revealed that PPFA is looking beyond defensive strategies, collaborating with Democrats to secure reproductive health protections when the party regains Congressional control. She said, “We aim for a combination of legislative safeguards and reconnecting with Medicaid in a way that is impervious to political changes.”
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, with Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi reporting weekly on how Washington influences healthcare.
Amid discussions about healthcare policies, the reach of these decisions extends far. Recently, a study initiated by the Biden administration on alcohol effects was revived after being shelved by the Trump administration, allegedly due to industry influences. Additionally, the annual Social Security report highlights the potential payout of benefits until late 2032. Meanwhile, the Vice President suggests investigating Minnesota officials over potential fraud linked to federal child support.
In another development, the FDA approved bemotrizinol for use in sunscreens, marking the first new ingredient addition in over two decades. This approval underscores the ongoing advancements in healthcare and consumer safety.
Local headlines across the nation illustrate varied health challenges, from Utah’s measles outbreak to reports of rural hospital closures in Virginia. Furthermore, legal battles in Colorado reflect ongoing debates over health and safety standards in immigrant detention facilities.
Healthcare news from other outlets also surfaces, such as the uproar within the Diabetes Association over NIH funding concerns and complex international disagreements influencing global health events.
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