A Travis County Judge has blocked the state’s latest effort to remove Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid Program.
Last November the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Texas, allowing the state to remove Planned Parenthood. Last month State health officials gave Planned Parenthood a 30-day notice of termination from the program, but now at the 11th hour a Travis County Judge temporarily blocked that.
State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble on Wednesday issued a 14-day temporary restraining order (TRO), concluding that Texas did not follow the proper legal procedure in order to remove Planned Parenthood. The women’s health care provider had asked Texas to allow its 8,000 patients ensured by Medicaid a few months to find another provider. The State gave them 30 days, leading Planned Parenthood to filed the emergency petition.
Dyana Limon-Mercado, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, the political arm of the non-profit is fully expecting this decision to be appealed by the State. “The judge thankfully granted the temporary restraining order, however we know that the Governor and Ken Paxton (Texas Attorney General) are relentless in their attacks on reproductive rights, and on women and we anticipate we will be playing legal ping pong,” said Limon-Mercado.
She’s hoping the 14 days might provide more time to find a legal way to remain in the Medicaid program. Limon-Mercado said Wednesday’s decision is part of an ongoing battle. “We’re definitely hopeful that the Biden administration will find ways to reinstate the protections that have existed traditionally in the Medicaid program to allow patients insured by Medicaid to see the provider of their choice.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton would not comment “at this time” on Wednesday’s decision or whether the State would appeal it.
The Judge has scheduled a February 17th hearing to review the TRO.