Los Angeles leaders have raised urgent concerns over a potential public health crisis if federal lawmakers move forward with a budget reconciliation bill that would defund Planned Parenthood.
At a press conference held on Monday, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who also serves as co-chair of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, stood alongside L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, to denounce a recent budget bill signed by President Donald Trump.
This legislation includes provisions that would strip federal Medicaid reimbursements from Planned Parenthood health centers across the nation, jeopardizing essential health services for millions.
Although a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the measure, its expiration date is approaching, leaving both health providers and patients in uncertainty.
Kamlager-Dove emphasized the vital services that Planned Parenthood offers. “When women visit Planned Parenthood, they’re looking for cancer screenings, STI testing, prenatal care, and access to trusted health professionals,” she stated. “This bill would criminalize the delivery of care and endanger women’s ability to seek it.”
She highlighted that her Congressional district, which encompasses many Black and brown neighborhoods in Los Angeles, is uniquely affected by this issue. “Fifty-two percent of adult women across the United States are on Medicaid, and in Los Angeles, that number is considerably higher,” Kamlager-Dove said. “This funding cut would disproportionately harm women, families, and communities already striving for better health care access.”
Planned Parenthood receives reimbursements from Medicaid for the services it provides, and defunding would mean that these health centers would no longer receive federal funds for care delivered to patients reliant on Medicaid.
Supervisor Mitchell, whose Second District includes historically underserved areas, highlighted the implications for Black residents in particular. “In my district alone, 850,000 individuals rely on Medicaid,” she stated. “Planned Parenthood clinics are often the only source of medical care available in health care deserts. Removing Medicaid funding is not merely an attack on clinics; it’s an assault on Black and brown communities that have been marginalized for generations.”
Mitchell expressed grave concerns about the consequences of this policy. “People will die, children will miss their immunizations, and women will lose access to crucial prenatal care and family planning services. These harmful policies will have the most severe impact on the very communities I represent.”
The budget reconciliation bill, known as HR 1, specifically targets Planned Parenthood by prohibiting any entities affiliated with it from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements for services rendered. Planned Parenthood officials have noted that federal law already restricts Medicaid funds from being used for abortion services, indicating that this measure aims to limit access to a broader range of essential health care services, such as cancer screenings, STI tests, contraceptives, and prenatal care for millions of low-income individuals.
Critics of the bill argue that it is a politically charged maneuver aimed at penalizing Planned Parenthood for its role in providing reproductive health care. They caution that this action could disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income neighborhoods where access to reliable healthcare providers is restricted.
Jodi Hicks, the leader of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, remarked, “This is a state that has made reproductive freedom a constitutional right. Yet, politicians in Washington are imposing economic sanctions on California, reflecting their values.
Over eighty percent of our patients rely on Medicaid. This is not just policy—it’s a matter of lives.”
Planned Parenthood Los Angeles reports over one million patient visits annually across its clinics, which serve a large percentage of the region’s Black and brown populations. Advocates fear that defunding would force patients into already overcrowded emergency rooms, exacerbating existing health disparities.
Local leaders are urging Angelenos to voice their opposition to the proposed measures. “This is about providing reproductive health care that is safe, compassionate, and affordable,” Kamlager-Dove declared. “When abortion rights have been on the ballot, citizens across the country have opted to safeguard reproductive health care. We must do the same here in Los Angeles.”
In response to the legislative threat, Planned Parenthood has initiated legal action to permanently block the law. In the meantime, Supervisor Mitchell calls for community engagement. “We rely on the media and community members to share the truth,” she said. “Health care is a fundamental human right, and we will continue fighting for it.”
image source from：lasentinel
