Sept. 25 (UPI) — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it will pause scheduling abortions starting Oct. 1 while it analyzes its options after President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which disallows Medicaid payments for one year.
“Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is — and always will be — focused on putting our patients first,” said Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. “Our commitment is unwavering: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive health care — including abortion — as soon as we are able to. In the meantime, we are pursuing every available option — through the courts, through operations, and civic engagement.”
The organization said the move is only temporary while the issue is in the courts. The organization is working with providers in the state to see patients before the law takes effect to ensure patients are “referred swiftly and receive timely, compassionate care with as little delay as possible.”
“Despite this deeply unfair and unjust policy, our priority is doing everything we can to minimize disruption for our patients,” spokesperson Stephanie Miller told 27 News. “To the patients who count on us: we are here for you. To our staff and supporters: thank you for standing with us. We remain dedicated to care-no matter what.”
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin had to pause abortion care after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. After 15 months, the organization was able to resume services in September 2023.
“This is a direct result of Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Bill,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., said on X. “It wasn’t enough to terminate health care for millions of Americans; they’re coming after Wisconsin women’s reproductive rights and freedoms, too.”
Of the 24 Planned Parenthood clinics in Wisconsin, only three offer abortion care, only two of which, in Madison and Milwaukee, offer surgical abortions.
Using federal dollars to pay for most abortions has been illegal since the 1976 Hyde Amendment.
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