Latest news with #Medicaid-funded
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Judge Blocks Medicaid Cuts To Planned Parenthood
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A federal judge on Monday ruled that the Trump administration must reimburse Planned Parenthood clinics across the country for Medicaid-funded services. The new order from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani replaces a previous one that was handed down last week. "Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable," Talwani wrote in her Monday order. "In particular, restricting Members' ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs." A provision in President Donald Trump's tax bill instructed the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023, even to those like Planned Parenthood that also offer medical services like contraception, pregnancy tests and STD testing. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
Axios
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Top federal prosecutor says Minnesota's fraud total could surpass $1 billion
Minnesota's acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson says his office has prosecuted a half billion dollars in fraud in state programs in recent years — and the total tally could double by the time it's done. The latest: FBI agents searched several properties last week in connection with what they called "massive" fraud involving Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services program. The program, which started in 2020 and provided Medicaid dollars for housing for seniors and people with disabilities, paid out over $100 million in claims last year, over 38 times the initial cost estimates. The big picture: The latest investigation comes on top of the $250 million-plus Feeding Our Future scheme, which has already resulted in 48 guilty pleas or convictions. A separate Medicaid-funded program meant to serve people with autism continues to face scrutiny amid fraud concerns and a 2024 FBI raid. What they're saying: "It's an extraordinary problem, the fraud that's pervasive in this state," Thompson told KSTP in an interview this week. Prosecutors have called the new housing stabilization program, one of the first of its kind nationwide, "uniquely vulnerable to fraud." The other side: DFL Gov. Tim Walz defended his administration's handling of the issue in an interview with Axios this week, saying the prosecutions are "counterintuitively a good thing" because it means state and federal investigators are catching — and stopping — fraud. "We want to help people, but we need to be skeptical. And if there's any thought whatsoever [that] these people are doing this, we need to refer them over [to law enforcement]," he said. Zoom in: Walz noted that a recent change in law allowed the state Department of Human Services to freeze payments amid fraud concerns in the housing stabilization program. An FBI search warrant confirms that DHS stopped payments to at least two providers in May, shortly after the law passed. But by that point, the providers had already received millions in reimbursements for what investigators say were false claims, per a federal search warrant. Friction point: Once the money's out the door, it's difficult to claw back. The government has recovered just $60 million in the Feeding our Future case, per KSTP. What we're watching: DHS told the Star Tribune it's opened about 40 investigations into providers connected to a single building in the housing aid case "and stopped payments everywhere we have seen evidence of fraud." "You will see more people going to jail," Walz said of the broader fraud crackdown.
11-07-2025
- Politics
Judge rejects a challenge to Michigan's decades-long ban on publicly funded abortions
DETROIT -- A judge has rejected a challenge to Michigan's longtime ban on taxpayer-funded abortions for low-income residents, saying a group that brought the lawsuit had no standing to file it. Michigan voters in 2022 approved a sweeping constitutional amendment ensuring a right to abortion. But a ban on most taxpayer-funded abortions has been in place for decades, no matter which political party has controlled the Legislature or the governor's office. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of YWCA Kalamazoo, which pays for abortions sought by women in southwestern Michigan. The group says more than 75% have incomes that would qualify them for state support if Medicaid-funded abortions were allowed. Judge Brock Swartzle of the Michigan Court of Claims dismissed the lawsuit on July 3, saying YWCA Kalamazoo was the wrong party to bring a challenge. 'The YWCA is not an individual and it, as a nonprofit organization, does not have reproductive freedom,' the judge said in an 18-page opinion. 'Further, the YWCA does not provide abortion care and is not directly affected by a law that denies funding for abortions.' Michigan's Medicaid program only pays for abortions to save a woman's life or to end pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Abortion and related services are available through Medicaid in 17 states, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Goodwin Procter, which both represent YWCA Kalamazoo.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Judge rejects a challenge to Michigan's decades-long ban on publicly funded abortions
DETROIT (AP) — A judge has rejected a challenge to Michigan's longtime ban on taxpayer-funded abortions for low-income residents, saying a group that brought the lawsuit had no standing to file it. Michigan voters in 2022 approved a sweeping constitutional amendment ensuring a right to abortion. But a ban on most taxpayer-funded abortions has been in place for decades, no matter which political party has controlled the Legislature or the governor's office. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of YWCA Kalamazoo, which pays for abortions sought by women in southwestern Michigan. The group says more than 75% have incomes that would qualify them for state support if Medicaid-funded abortions were allowed. Judge Brock Swartzle of the Michigan Court of Claims dismissed the lawsuit on July 3, saying YWCA Kalamazoo was the wrong party to bring a challenge. 'The YWCA is not an individual and it, as a nonprofit organization, does not have reproductive freedom,' the judge said in an 18-page opinion. 'Further, the YWCA does not provide abortion care and is not directly affected by a law that denies funding for abortions.' Michigan's Medicaid program only pays for abortions to save a woman's life or to end pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Abortion and related services are available through Medicaid in 17 states, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Goodwin Procter, which both represent YWCA Kalamazoo. A request for comment from the ACLU was not immediately answered Thursday.
Chicago Tribune
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Letters to the Editor: Republicans seem intent on hurting the most vulnerable
Members of Congress take the Pledge of Allegiance hundreds of times during their terms in office. It says that liberty and justice are for all. But Republican lawmakers in Washington don't believe the Pledge. Instead, they only want liberty and justice for some. Despite strong opposition, the threats to Medicaid have gotten worse. The budget bill passed by the House in May includes $800 billion in cuts over 10 years. The Senate's version released last week increases those cuts to $1 trillion. The results will be catastrophic. More than 10.3 million Medicaid beneficiaries will lose coverage. More than 4.5 million people with complex needs who live at home may be forced into costlier and lower-quality institutions. More than 4 million family caregivers may lose supports. More than 13,000 people in nursing homes will die. More than 338 rural hospitals will close. Republicans are determined to hurt people who don't deserve it. People like my disabled adult son David, who needs 24/7 support. He lives in a Medicaid-funded group home and attends a Medicaid-funded day activity center, both in Elgin. He's not a statistic. He's one human face of Medicaid. Why is the Republican Congress intent on dismantling safety net programs that David relies on? To give massive tax cuts to wealthy individuals and profitable corporations. So the richest people on the planet can own even more. But taking from David to give to Elon Musk isn't justice for all. In fact, it's not justice at all. Our Illinois senators reject this budget. But if it passes, Illinois will lose money and be forced to cut services. So, please call Republican senators from other states and protest. Their votes affect everyone in the U.S., not just their own constituents. Ask them to live up their Pledge of liberty and justice for all.
