State of California et al. v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al.

Why this Matters:

The plaintiffs challenge a provision withholding federal Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood health centers’ provision of essential, non-abortion health care, including cancer screenings and prevention, as violating the Spending Clause of the Constitution. Planned Parenthood’s clinics provide access to care for many clinically underserved and low-income populations, and this provision could force clinics to close or reduce their service areas.

Potential Impact:

Terminating funding could force Planned Parenthood to close centers and eliminate essential services, which would leave countless individuals without necessary access to sexual and reproductive health care, as well as general preventive health services.