Attorney General Kwame Raoul has obtained a preliminary injunction that blocks the enforcement of a federal provision designed to remove Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood and similar health centers. The contested “Defund Provision,” part of a recent federal budget reconciliation law, aimed to stop these clinics from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements for services such as cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, birth control, and other essential medical care for low-income patients. Federal law already prohibits using Medicaid funds for abortion procedures.
Raoul joined 21 other state attorneys general in July to file a lawsuit against the measure. He stated, “Planned Parenthood facilities play a key role in our nation’s health and wellness by providing comprehensive care to more than 1 million Americans. The Defund Provision is a cruel and unconstitutional attempt to create confusion and attack abortion providers while burdening states’ agencies and health care systems. I’m pleased with the court’s ruling, and I will continue advocating for vital federal funding that ensures every person in Illinois has access to the health care services they need.”
The injunction was issued by Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. It prevents enforcement of the Defund Provision and requires that Medicaid funding continues as usual. The court placed a seven-day administrative stay on the order, giving the administration time to appeal.
This legal challenge is one of several actions Raoul has taken related to reproductive rights during his tenure. He has supported legislative efforts to maintain Illinois as a center for reproductive health care, provided guidance about abortion rights in Illinois, clarified that abortion is not criminalized in the state, and collaborated with other attorneys general on national legal briefs concerning access to medication abortions.
In addition to reproductive rights litigation, Raoul’s office has worked on privacy issues related to reproductive health information—issuing guidance on protecting patient data online—and advocated for stronger protections at both federal agencies and private companies.
Raoul was joined in this lawsuit by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin; Pennsylvania also participated as a commonwealth.