Planned Parenthood fights Ohio notice to terminate Medicaid participation

COLUMBUS — Two Planned Parenthood affiliates are challenging Ohio’s plan to end their Medicaid participation, a move that they say could prevent affordable health care access for more than 27,000 Ohioans.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region received letters dated Sept. 24 from the Ohio Department of Medicaid proposing their termination from the program. The state cited only a federal budget reconciliation act passed this summer that prohibits Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements.

The Planned Parenthood affiliates are requesting an administrative hearing over the termination letters from state officials.

Melissa Cohen, general counsel for the organizations, called the federal funding ban “purely a political attack on Planne