From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced today it is resuming abortion services at its three clinics nearly a month after pausing the procedure amid concerns it could jeopardize federal funding under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
That legislation implemented a one-year ban on all federal funding to organizations that provide abortion services and receive more than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. But Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it is no longer worried about losing funding if it continues abortion services at its clinics in Madison, Milwaukee and Sheboygan.
“At a time when politicians are working to take away health care from women and families, we are fighting back with everything we have,” said Tanya Atkinson, the group’s president and CEO. “We’ve been here before. We’ve stood up to relentless attacks on reproductive health for decades—and we are not backing down now. Our patients deserve nothing less.”
The group said family planning organizations have three options under the federal legislation: cease providing abortions, relinquish their tax-exempt status or give up their Essential Community Provider status.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin chose the latter. The designation is for providers that serve predominantly low-income, medically underserved individuals and was created under the Affordable Care Act to help make it easier to be considered in-network for billing with private insurers.
A spokesperson said the group doesn’t believe it will impact patient access, though it’s unsure of future financial implications.
The restrictions in the OBBA are currently being challenged in federal court.
Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right-to-Life, knocked the move.
“Planned Parenthood’s decision underscores our concerns with taxpayer funding going towards organizations that prioritize abortion; women deserve compassionate, life-affirming care – the kind of support the pro-life movement is here to provide,” she said.
— Gov. Tony Evers and Dem Congress members today criticized Republicans for not renewing enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies as some Wisconsinites could see their premiums more than double when open enrollment begins Saturday.
Those hardest hit would include senior couples, who could see hikes of more than $30,000 in some counties, according to numbers from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
Evers’ virtual press conference with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, and Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, came as Democrats push to renew enhanced ACA tax credits amid the government shutdown. The tax credits have lowered insurance costs for millions since being introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some Republicans have voiced openness to extending the credits, congressional leaders have said that discussion should come after the government is reopened. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has kept his chamber in recess since Sept. 19.
Evers blamed the shutdown, which began Oct. 1, on Republicans’ refusal to extend the tax credits. He said without the credits, “health care premiums for Wisconsinites are going to skyrocket, period.”
“Wisconsinites expect their leaders to work together to solve problems. Instead, Republicans in Congress are hell-bent on creating problems instead of working together to solve them, and Wisconsinites are gonna pay the price,” the Dem guv said.
State GOP Chair Brian Schimming in a statement knocked Dems for “doing everything they can to distract Americans from their failures.”
“President Trump has delivered historic wins for healthcare, especially in rural communities by providing much needed investments,” he said.
See the release below and watch the press conference. See more on this later today from WisPolitics.
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