Family planning care providers in Maine this week are celebrating state-level funding bills taking effect against a backdrop of the most extreme attacks targeting sexual and reproductive health care in moden history.  This year alone, the Trump administration and a Republican-led congress have targeted virtually every program that supports access to basic care from Title X (fedral family planning funding) to Medicaid (MaineCare) in Maine.

Passed by the state legislature last spring and signed into law by Governor Mills in July, LD 143,  this Legislature was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce and Rep. Kristen Cloutier and co-sponsored by Democratic leadership.  Also passing in June was the state’s additional budget which included an appropriation for family planning funding.  Together they will provide $6 million in one-time funding to help alleviate the financial burden of the free and discoubted care Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) and Maine Family Planning (MFP) provide.millions of dollars in free and discouted care each year.

The new law also blocks the use of Medicaid for basic heath care services for patients at Maine Family Planning, which operates 19 health centers.  If the courts don’t intervene, Maine Family Planning will lose nearly $2 million from Medicaid reimbursemet.  MFP will continue to see patients with sexual and reproductive health needs, but will be forced to stop seeing primary care patients due to unsuistainable reimbursement and funding instability.

Most recently, Congress passed President Trump’s federal reconciliation bill that includes a harmful provision “defunding” Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning prohibiting  the health care providers from receving reimbjrsement payments for nonabotion services provided to patients insured by MaineCare (Medicaid).

PPNNE, which operates four health centers in Maine, continues to welcome anyone who comes to them for care, regardless of insurance status or abiity to pay.  This means PPNE is bearing the cost of care provided to patients covered by Medicaid.  This mission-driven decision was made with the understanding that without PPNNE, patients would otherwise forgo or be unable to access care.

The press release issued today says in its closing remark that:   “While there are separate lawsuits moving through the courts, right now neither PNNE nor MFP can be reimbrsed for services provided to Medicaid patients.”

“Buy Tylenol,” says this blogger.  “Give it to a pregnant friend or relative.”