The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has filed to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit against the Trump administration that sought to challenge the decision to cut off Medicaid funding to abortion providers.
The PPFA on Friday filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.
The organization filed its lawsuit in July of last year after President Trump signed the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill, which included a section that disallowed federal funding from going to abortion providers.
The PPFA sought to have this portion of the bill declared unconstitutional and sought to exclude Planned Parenthood members that do not provide abortions.
“The goal of this lawsuit has always been to help Planned Parenthood patients get the care they deserve from their trusted provider. Based on the 1st Circuit’s decision, it is clear that this lawsuit is no longer the best way to accomplish that goal,” the PPFA, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah said in a joint statement.
A network of medical clinics in Maine filed a similar lawsuit last year challenging the funding cuts. This lawsuit was filed around the same time as the PPFA’s, seeking appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit.
After plaintiffs were denied their requested preliminary injunction, they moved to halt legal proceedings in October. At the time, they also cited the fact that the federal government had shut down and attorneys for the government were unable to work. Attorneys for the plaintiffs stated in court filings that they did not plan to appeal to the Supreme Court, and they ultimately filed a notice of voluntary dismissal in December.
The PPFA cited this unfavorable legal outcome in their decision to voluntarily dismiss their own lawsuit.
Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the PPFA, said the latest decision did not change the organization’s mission.
“Through every attack, Planned Parenthood has never lost sight of its focus: ensuring patients can get the care they need from the provider they trust. That will never change. Care continues, as does our commitment to fighting for everyone’s freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures,” she said in a statement.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5719397-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-dismissal-trump/
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