Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to halt abortions starting Oct. 1 

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced it will stop scheduling abortions beginning Oct. 1, citing cuts to Medicaid funding that threaten its ability to operate.

The group said it plans to continue offering other reproductive health services – such as cancer screenings, STI treatment and abortion referrals – while it pursues legal remedies, Life News reports.

“Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion, as soon and as we are able to,” Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of the organization, said in a statement. “In the meantime, we are pursuing every available option through the courts, through operations, and civic engagement.”

The pause is triggered by a provision in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that bars Medicaid reimbursements to entities like Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services.

Although Medicaid has long been barred from paying for abortion directly, Planned Parenthood clinics have relied on Medicaid funds to support their broader operations. A federal appeals court recently allowed the government to halt those Medicaid payments while legal challenges proceed.

Before the cutoff takes effect, the group said it will see as many abortion patients as possible. It also plans to refer women to other abortion providers.

Pro-life leaders in Wisconsin celebrated the news.

“Taxpayer dollars should never fund the taking of innocent preborn lives,” Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, said in a statement. “Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has long centered its operations around abortion services, and this announcement only confirms that reality.

“Women and girls facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies deserve compassion, real support, and life-affirming care – and that’s exactly what the pro-life movement is committed to providing,” she added.

In Wisconsin, two independent clinics – Care for All and Affiliated Medical Services, both in Milwaukee – may still provide abortion services after Oct. 1. The decision may result in some patients going to other states. Illinois clinics are preparing for a possible surge of women from Wisconsin seeking abortions, reports say.

The development makes Wisconsin the first state in which Planned Parenthood has fully paused abortion services in response to the new law.

Elsewhere, some states are also examining or enacting policies to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood or block its participation in state Medicaid programs.

In South Carolina, a June 2025 U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for the state to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program over abortion activities.