Once again, Republicans show that they are only skilled at ignoring nearly everything important in front of them in favor of passing harmful laws that punish people. With health care access out of reach for millions of Americans, Arkansas Republicans have decided to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood—again.
The state’s Department of Human Services said it terminated Planned Parenthood’s status as a Medicaid provider last week when the court’s ruling formally took effect, according to The Associated Press.
A federal appeals court in August vacated an earlier injunction that prevented the state from stopping Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood and said earlier this month it would not reconsider its decision.
Four circuit courts and numerous district courts in other states have ruled that states can’t block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood.
Arkansas first attempted to block Medicaid funds in 2015 after a video came out attempting to paint Planned Parenthood as an organization that profited from the sale of fetal parts. Remember, that video was made by anti-abortion activists. Not only was it later found to be completely fake, but the people behind the video were charged with 15 different felonies. But Republicans won’t let the truth stand in their way—not when it comes to their incomprehensible war on women.
Unfortunately, Arkansas is not a stand-alone state when it comes to its warped attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and prevent women from accessing safe, affordable reproductive health care. Texas has done this previously (also right after the 2015 fake video), and a judge also ruled in that case that the state could not remove Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood.
It’s not clear whether or not Planned Parenthood will appeal this decision. However, women in Arkansas and across the country continue to have much to fear from Republicans, who have made it a central part of their platform to limit a woman’s right to choose, and cut off any avenues to health and wellness.