Los Angeles County leaders are set to hold a press conference Monday morning to “sound the alarm” on what they say could be a public health crisis as a result of defunding Planned Parenthood.
A Temporary Restraining Order is set to expire on Monday, meaning that Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide could immediately be defunded.
According to Planned Parenthood, over 80% of their patients in California rely on Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is the state Medicaid program that helps patients access birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and more, the release stated.
“Sadly, we already know where federal defunding of Planned Parenthood will lead. Cancers will go undetected, the STI crisis will worsen, wellness exams and preventative care will substantially decline, and it will be harder than ever for people to access birth control,” a press release stated.
“Moreover, people will forgo essential health care and instead turn to already overcrowded emergency rooms for what could have been routine appointments. These are real concerns in Los Angeles, where stark health inequities and stubborn gaps in reproductive health access persist.”
According to the release, Planned Parenthood is reimbursed for services provided to patients. And if they are defunded, these health centers would not receive federal reimbursement for care provided to patients who use Medicaid for their health coverage.