Judge Rules For Temporary Halt in Indiana Abortion Fight

A federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of Indiana’s controversial law stripping Planned Parenthood of Indiana of any Medicaid funding, the American Civil Liberties Union said late Friday.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt keeps Medicaid funds going to Planned Parenthood, which has 9,300 Medicaid patients in Indiana, the group said.

Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a law in May that would cut off federal funding from Indiana clinics that perform abortions. The law was primarily aimed at Planned Parenthood clinics. 

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick said the federal government could not endorse the law because it restricts access to a range of important family planning services. Federal money cannot be spent directly on abortion services anyway, but most clinics that offer abortion also offer other family planning and health services, from breast cancer screening to birth control advice.

However, Indiana said it would implement the amendment.

Judge Pratt found that there was merit to Indiana Planned Parenthood’s argument that the new law violates the U.S. constitution and federal law. She told Indiana to hold off on its decision to take funds away from Planned Parenthood while the case moves forward in court.

“This is a positive first step in what promises to be a long legal battle,” said Ken Falk, legal director of the ACLU of Indiana and lead counsel in the case. “We are encouraged by the judge’s ruling but know we have a very long way to go before we can ultimately declare victory.”

  
Betty Cockrum, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, says her organization is the state’s largest reproductive health care provider.

 “We’ve been caring for our established Medicaid patients through donations, which were set to run out June 20,” she said in a statement.

“This ruling means we can continue providing Pap tests, breast exams, STD (sexually transmitted disease) testing and treatment and birth control to both existing and new Medicaid patients. It also means that we have avoided the difficult decision to close health centers and lay off staff members while the permanent injunction we are seeking is pending.”

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