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.

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 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.  

In 2024, Maine Family Planning administered: 

• 16,361 STI Tests
• 3,700 HIV Tests 
• 2,624 Cervical Cancer Screenings 

 

“We are suing because this law will prevent thousands of Mainers from going to their trusted health care provider at Maine Family Planning, simply because they provide abortion care among many other services,” said Nancy Northup, President and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights. 

Constitutional right to equal protection

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.  

“Congress and the Trump administration have taken away patients’ freedom to choose their own trusted health care provider and have cut off access to care for thousands of Mainers. It’s wrong and counter to our values as Americans and Mainers,” said George Hill, President and CEO of Maine Family Planning. 

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.  

“If these clinics lose half their patients and are forced to close, other providers will have to absorb those patients, and it will become harder for everyone in the state to get health care,” said Northup. “It will create a domino effect that harms everyone, even those not on Medicaid. We are asking the court to restore funding so these clinics can stay open and continue to serve Mainers who can’t afford care elsewhere.” 

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.  

The Center’s suit takes aim at this dangerous agenda. “Every person should live with dignity and autonomy,” said Hill. “With this lawsuit, we are proud to fight for our patients and for all Mainers who deserve high quality, affordable health care.”