MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin resumed scheduling abortions on Monday after a nearly month-long pause due to federal Medicaid funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill that took effect at the beginning of October.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it was able to resume scheduling abortions as of noon on Monday since it no longer fits the definition of a “prohibited entity” under the new federal law and can receive Medicaid funds.

The organization stated it has relinquished its designation as an “essential community provider” as defined under the Affordable Care Act. This change is not expected to impact abortion costs or other services, according to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin president and CEO Tanya Atkinson.

“At this point, in all of our research and analysis, we really shouldn’t see much of an impact on patient access,” she noted. “If relinquishing this ultimately affects our bottom line, we will need to navigate that path as it develops.”

A National Debate Over Abortion Funding

The issue of abortion funding has been highly contentious within the U.S., particularly for affiliates of Planned Parenthood, the largest provider. The landscape surrounding abortion services has shifted significantly following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that granted states the authority to impose bans on abortion. Currently, twelve states prohibit all abortion services at any stage, with four imposing bans after approximately six weeks of pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood has cautioned that around half of its clinics providing abortion services could face closure nationally due to restrictions imposed by the new federal law regarding Medicaid funding related to services beyond abortion.

In Wisconsin, a state where abortion remains legal but where the Republican-controlled Legislature has enacted numerous access limitations, Planned Parenthood was the sole organization to freeze all abortion services due to the newly implemented federal guidelines, Atkinson stated.

Due to intricate state laws governing abortion, Planned Parenthood affiliates have adopted varied responses to the federal law. For instance, in Arizona, Planned Parenthood ceased accepting Medicaid yet continued to offer abortion services.

Effects on Wisconsin Abortion Clinics

During the 26-day suspension, women seeking abortions were often forced to explore options outside of Wisconsin, including traveling to Chicago, which is roughly a three-hour drive from local Planned Parenthood facilities.

Affiliated Medical Services and Care for All are among other providers that offer abortion services in Milwaukee.

Atkinson expressed uncertainty regarding the number of women impacted by the service hiatus, indicating that data on how many individuals sought alternative options during this time is not currently available.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin caters to approximately 50,000 clients, about 60% of whom rely on Medicaid for coverage, the organization reported.

Given these statistics, securing ongoing Medicaid funding emerged as the priority, leading to the decision to relinquish the “Essential Community Provider” designation, Atkinson explained.

Wisconsin is part of a broader multistate federal lawsuit contesting provisions of the new law. A federal appeals court ruled in September that the government can terminate payments while legal challenges regarding the law are ongoing.

Implications for Medicaid

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin referenced a court filing dated September 29, indicating that family planning organizations can continue to bill Medicaid if they forgo either their tax-exempt status or the “essential community provider” classification.

By opting to discard this designation, the organization no longer meets the criteria of a “prohibited entity” under federal law, allowing it to continue receiving federal Medicaid funds. Importantly, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will retain its tax-exempt status.

The “essential community provider” classification was initially established to facilitate billing processes with private health insurers, according to Planned Parenthood.

Atkinson characterized this as a “nuanced provision” of the law, expressing confidence that it will not hinder the organization’s capacity to continue delivering abortions and other vital health services.

Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of services, including cancer screenings and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. Notably, federal Medicaid funding has not been allocated for abortions. However, local affiliates depend on Medicaid support to maintain operational stability. Non-abortion services are projected to expand in response to the new regulatory changes.

Between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, Planned Parenthood reported performing 3,727 abortions in Wisconsin.