In September, 2015, the ACLU of Arkansas and Planned Parenthood of the Heartland filed suit to ensure that people with limited incomes could continue to access affordable birth control, lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screenings, and other healthcare at Planned Parenthood health centers using their Medicaid benefits after Governor Asa Hutchinson tried to block the use of Medicaid funds at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Status: The case has returned to the trial court and we’ve requested a preliminary injunction against the action arguing that treating Planned Parenthood of Great Plains differently than other Medicaid providers violates Equal Protection. PPGP offers life-saving cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and birthcontrol to Arkansans, but is currently unable to offer those services. The motion for injunction asks that Planned Parenthood be allowed to continue providing services to low-income Arkansans insured through the Medicaid program.
