‘Horrific’: Planned Parenthood head reacts after Supreme Court backs bid to defund org

Healthcare Access & Policy - The Supreme Court's ruling allows states to block Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, impacting access to healthcare services for low-income individuals [1][2] - This decision empowers state officials to potentially choose healthcare providers for individuals based on ideological agendas, raising concerns about patient choice and access to care [4] - Planned Parenthood anticipates that states with strong biases against abortion may attempt to restrict its reimbursement for services, affecting millions of people [6] Public Health Implications - Closure of health centers, including Planned Parenthood, can lead to a public health crisis, potentially increasing the incidence of untreated STIs and ectopic pregnancies [8][9] - Reduced access to birth control and STI treatment may result from defunding Planned Parenthood, exacerbating existing public health challenges [8][9] - A congressional defunding of Planned Parenthood could impact 1 million patients and put 200 health centers at risk of closure [8] Planned Parenthood & Service Provision - The ruling primarily affects Planned Parenthood's ability to receive Medicaid reimbursements for services provided to low-income patients [1][6] - Services at stake include birth control, STI testing and treatment, wellness exams, and cancer screenings, which are unrelated to abortion services [3] - Crisis pregnancy centers, which discourage abortions, may provide substandard care, such as avoiding prenatal ultrasounds for suspected ectopic pregnancies [6][7]