Planned Parenthood's 8,000 Medicaid patients will need to find another health care provider as of Thursday March 11.
State District Judge Lora Livingston Wednesday rejected the non-profit's assertion that they weren't given ample notice of removal from the State's Medicaid program, after the 5th Circuit Court ruled in favor of the state.
"This decision is not made lightly," Judge Livingston wrote. "In the light of the ongoing public health crisis, the risks of the individual losing health care and medical attention requires increased attention and scrutiny. The facts underlying the termination in this case give me great pause."
Livingston went on to say that the Federal court is where the deadline questions should have been heard. "However, Relators selected the federal courts as the forum to contest the merits of their claims, and they are now not able to revive their administrative remedies as the deadline to seek that relief has long since passed," Livingston wrote. "The merits of their claims must be determined by the federal courts."
"This is another failure in a long list of failures Gov. Abbott has racked up when it comes to doing what is best for the people of Texas. The 8,000 Planned Parenthood patients who rely on Medicaid should be able to access care at the provider they know and trust. Without access to the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care Planned Parenthood provides, thousands of lives are now at even greater risk," Dyana Limon-Mercado, the executive director for Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, said in a statement.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton refused to comment on the Judge's decision.
