Summary

Summary

Update: On August 25, a federal district court in Maine ruled that the Trump Administration can continue to deny Medicaid reimbursement to Maine Family Planning (MFP). This loss means that MFP will be forced to turn away all of their primary care patients by the end of October, and threatens MFP’s ability to continue providing other essential services.

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit July 16 on behalf of Maine Family Planning (MFP), Maine’s largest network of reproductive health care clinics. The suit challenges a provision in the so-called “big beautiful bill,” signed July 4 by President Trump, which prevents both MFP and Planned Parenthood from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements.

The sweeping spending bill targets health care organizations that provide abortions, barring them from accepting Medicaid for non-abortion services like STI testing, cancer screenings, primary care, routine OB/GYN visits and contraception. MFP operates 18 clinics across the state of Maine, many in rural areas where care is hard to access. It is the sole health care provider for roughly 70% of its patients—half of whom rely on Medicaid.  

About the Case

About the Case

Bill Violates Constitutional Right to Equal Protection, Center Argues 

The lawsuit argues that the targeted defunding is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, which protects against government discrimination and ensures equal treatment under the law. 

The Center filed the suit in Maine federal court against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. It asks that MFP be allowed to keep receiving federal Medicaid reimbursement and requests emergency relief so that clinics won’t be forced to turn away patients who can’t pay.  

Funding Cuts Will Wreak Havoc on Reproductive Health Care 

Medicaid covers 396,000 children and adults in the state of Maine and more than 70 million people nationwide. For MFP, which provides care to tens of thousands each year through its own clinics and subcontracts with other clinics across the state, Medicaid funding is essential—and without it, up to nine MFP clinics may close.  

Impact of Cutting Medicaid Funds

Impact of Cutting Medicaid Funds

Across the country, the Trump administration’s budget cuts put hundreds of other health centers at risk of closing. And while supporters of the cuts claim patients can turn to federally qualified health centers, research shows these centers are dramatically underequipped to handle them. Abortion and other reproductive care will become harder to access for everyone, everywhere—with the vast majority of threatened clinics in states where abortion is legal.

This is only the Trump administration’s latest effort to restrict access to reproductive care. Earlier this year, it targeted MFP and dozens of other providers by freezing millions in family planning funds. The administration has already gutted public health programs, censored information, and stopped enforcing laws protecting patients and providers.

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