08.25.2025 (PRESS RELEASE) — Today, a federal district court in Maine ruled that the Trump Administration can continue to deny Medicaid funding to Maine Family Planning (MFP), despite the fact that nearly half their patients rely on Medicaid. As the largest network of reproductive health care clinics in the state, MFP serves thousands of low-income Mainers—largely in rural locations—providing STI testing, cancer screenings, contraception, and primary care. This ruling 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.

Earlier this summer, Congress rescinded MFP’s Medicaid funding through President Trump’s so-called “big beautiful bill” because they provide abortion care, even though no federal Medicaid funds are used for abortion services. The case—Maine Family Planning v. HHS— was filed in July 2025 by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of MFP.

The bill has already forced MFP to stop accepting new primary care patients enrolled in Medicaid. Now, they may have no choice but to close clinics, cut services, or severely limit the number of patients served. These disruptions will destabilize the entire state health infrastructure, impacting patients who rely on Medicaid as well as those who don’t.

“This ruling is a devastating setback for Mainers who depend on us for basic primary care,” said George Hill, President & CEO of Maine Family Planning. “The loss of Medicaid funds—which nearly half our patients rely on—threatens our ability to provide life-saving services to communities across the state. Mainers’ health should never be jeopardized by political decisions, and we will continue to fight for them.”

“This ruling means that thousands of Mainers across the state may lose access to their trusted health provider for essential health care services, including cancer screenings, birth control, and primary care at Maine Family Planning,” said Nancy Northup, President and CEO at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “The Trump Administration and Congress would rather topple a statewide health safety network than let low-income patients receive a cancer screening at a clinic that also offers abortions. This ruling takes a sledgehammer to an already overstretched health care network, and Mainers statewide will feel the effects of defunding Maine Family Planning, regardless of their insurance status.”

Around 8,000 patients receive family planning and primary care at Maine Family Planning’s 18 clinics and mobile unit every year, and tens of thousands of additional patients receive care through MFP’s subcontracts at other clinics across the state. Many of MFP’s clinics provide care in very rural areas of the state where there are no other health care providers. In fact, around 70% of their patients rely exclusively on MFP and will not see any other health care provider in a given year.

The Center for Reproductive Rights filed this case against the United States Department of Health and Human Services, its Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and its Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The lawsuit argues that defunding MFP violates the federal Constitution’s Equal Protection guarantee and asks the courts to reinstate MFP’s ability to receive Medicaid reimbursements for essential health care, including birth control, STI testing, cancer screenings, routine OBGYN visits and primary care.

The bill signed by President Trump on July 4^th jeopardizes reproductive health care throughout the country by barring Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning from accepting Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion services such as STI testing, cervical cancer screenings, and contraception. Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of low-income Americans, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. A judge blocked the defunding of Planned Parenthood in a separate case.

This case was filed by Meetra Mehdizadeh and Astrid Ackerman with the Center for Reproductive Rights, Gideon Asen, and Selendy Gay on behalf of Maine Family Planning. 

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Center for Reproductive Rights: [email protected] 

Maine Family Planning: [email protected] (Kat Mavengere)