WASHINGTON – Access to affordable healthcare in Washington is under threat due to a recent federal budget decision. Earlier this year, a Republican-led bill removed Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program entirely.
This change means patients will now have to pay out of pocket or seek care elsewhere for essential services like birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing.
In response to the funding cut, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced that the state will allocate more than $11 million to replace the lost federal funds. This move aims to protect care for nearly 43,000 Medicaid patients for at least the next year.
Karl Eastlund, CEO of Planned Parenthood, emphasized the broader implications of the funding change.
“Now, you may think this is all about abortion, but please make no mistake federal dollars do not cover abortions,” he stated.
However, this state-backed solution is temporary. The federal provision is set to expire in July 2026, leaving the future of Medicaid funding uncertain.
