December 28, 2020

5th Circuit Rules Texas and Louisiana can Cut off Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood

The full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Dec. 21 that the states of Texas and Louisiana can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics. This decision reversed a ruling by a three-judge panel from the 5th Circuit in 2015.

The 2015 decision involved only involved Texas's decision to ban Planned Parenthood from receiving funding from Medicaid. The full 5th Circuit attempted to take the case in 2017, but there were only 14 judges on the court and they reached a 7-7 deadlock.

Since taking office, President Trump has nominated six judges to the court. One of them was recused and another joined too recently to participate in the decision, but the other four all sided with the 11-member majority to allow Texas to enforce its ban. Additionally, the court said that its ruling applies to Louisiana's ban, which can now also be enforced.

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