Why a US judge blocked Trump's push to cut Planned Parenthood funding
The order, issued Monday by US District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston, replaces a previous ruling from last week that applied only to certain clinics.
Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in the US, but most of its clinics also provide birth control, cancer screenings, pregnancy tests, and STD treatment. Much of this care is paid for through Medicaid, a public health insurance programme for people on low incomes.
The ruling comes as part of a legal challenge to a provision in Trump's recent tax law. That measure instructed the government to stop Medicaid funding for one year to any abortion provider that received more than $800,000 in reimbursements in 2023 a move that directly affected Planned Parenthood.
In her decision, Judge Talwani wrote: 'Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable,' according to the Associated Press (AP).
'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,' she added.
Planned Parenthood, the country's largest abortion provider, said the funding cut would have forced nearly 200 clinics in 24 states to shut down, leaving more than 1 million patients without services such as birth control, cancer screening, and STD testing.
'We're suing the Trump administration over this targeted attack on Planned Parenthood health centres and the patients who rely on them for care,' said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, quoted by the AP.
'This case is about making sure that patients who use Medicaid to get birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment can continue to do so at their local Planned Parenthood centre, and we will make that clear in court,' she said.
The US Department of Health did not comment immediately. However, its spokesperson had earlier said the department disagreed with any court order that allowed Medicaid funding to continue for clinics involved in political activity.
'States should not be forced to fund organisations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,' said Andrew Nixon, the department's communications director, in a statement reported by the AP.
He said this approach 'undermines state flexibility' and raises 'concerns about accountability'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Health Talk: Taking the road to hepatitis elimination
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic—cancer-causing—to humans, just like hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis D, which only affects individuals infected with hepatitis B, is associated with a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer compared to hepatitis B alone, it added. (AP/ Representative photo) Hepatitis D, which only affects individuals infected with hepatitis B, is associated with a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer compared to hepatitis B alone, it added. Viral hepatitis – types A, B, C, D, and E – are major causes of acute liver infection. Among these, only hepatitis B, C, and D can lead to chronic infections that significantly increase the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Each year, July 28 is observed as World Hepatitis Day, as viral hepatitis continues to remain a serious public health threat and one of the primary causes of liver cancer. Yet most people with hepatitis don't know they're infected, says the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the UN health body, types B, C, and D affect at least 300 million people globally and cause at least 1.3 million deaths each year, mainly from liver cirrhosis and cancer. In a paper published on Monday, The Lancet Commission also mentioned that three in five liver cancer cases happen due to preventable risk factors, including fatty liver, alcohol, and viral hepatitis. It also added that obesity-linked cancer cases are on the rise. The majority of liver cancer cases can be prevented by reducing levels of viral hepatitis, alcohol consumption, and MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease – previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), it said. Liver cancer is already a major cause of death and disability. Globally, it's the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Interestingly, the Commission estimated in the paper that at least 60% of liver cancers are preventable via control of modifiable risk factors, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), MASLD, and alcohol. While there are preventive measures and treatment available to combat this public health threat, last year's Global Hepatitis Report underscored some challenges that majorly impact disease management. According to the report, testing and treatment coverage remain critically low: only 13% of people with hepatitis B and 36% with hepatitis C had been diagnosed by 2022. Treatment rates were even lower – 3% for hepatitis B and 20% for hepatitis C – well below the 2025 targets of 60% diagnosed and 50% treated. Integration of hepatitis services remained uneven: 80 countries have incorporated hepatitis services into primary health care, 128 into HIV programmes, and just 27 have integrated hepatitis C services into harm reduction centres. The next challenge, according to the report, will be to scale up the implementation of prevention, testing, and treatment coverage. Achieving WHO's 2030 targets could save 2.8 million lives and prevent 9.8 million new infections. With declining donor support, countries must prioritize domestic investment, integrated services, better data, affordable medicines, and ending stigma, said experts in the report. 'Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related severe liver disease or liver cancer. Yet we have the tools to stop hepatitis,' WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement on World Hepatitis Day. He is right. We have the tools at our disposal; all we need is for stakeholders—governments, civil society, community leaders, etc.—to come together, to jointly work towards eliminating hepatitis.
Economic Times
12 hours ago
- Economic Times
Canada is choking as wildfire smoke smothers cities and spreads into US Midwest; Health warnings issued
AP Canada is choking as wildfire smoke from the Prairies triggers extreme air-quality warnings, painting skies orange and pushing pollution to dangerous highs across the country and into the US Thick wildfire smoke drifting east from Canada's Prairie provinces has blanketed large parts of the country, triggering special air-quality warnings and health advisories from British Columbia to Quebec. Environment Canada issued alerts Saturday(August 2) citing 'extremely high' levels of pollution in regions of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories, with the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) hitting level 10 or above, considered 'very high risk' for public health. The smoke, coming from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada's western interior, has reduced visibility, tainted skies with an orange hue, and raised alarms for vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people with asthma or heart hardest-hit areas include La Ronge, Sask., Flin Flon, Man., and Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories, where the AQHI remained in the 'extremely high' range for several hours Saturday. Winnipeg was the only major Prairie city under a special air-quality statement, while northern Alberta, including Fort McMurray, is expected to see similar conditions by Sunday, according to Alberta's wildfire smoke forecast model. Environment Canada issues air-quality warnings when AQHI levels exceed 10 for at least six consecutive hours. A special air-quality statement, meanwhile, is triggered when index levels reach between 7 and from Canadian wildfires has also affected US cities. Over the past week, Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, and other Midwestern hubs registered dangerous AQI levels, prompting health alerts. In Minnesota, it marked the longest consecutive air-quality advisory in state agency warns of mild symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, while more serious cases could involve chest pain and severe coughing. Pregnant individuals, infants, seniors, and people with respiratory illness are most at advise people to stay indoors, use HEPA filters or N95 masks, and avoid strenuous outdoor Edmonton, where a separate heat warning remains in effect, officials have activated emergency cooling stations and are distributing water through fire hydrants and peace officers.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
Nationwide butter recall in US as FDA issues urgent health warning to customers. Check details
AP The affected cases were distributed to 12 distribution centers across the United States and one center in the Dominican Republic. Issuing the second-highest risk warning, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled butter across the nation due to a potential undeclared allergen. Based in Missouri, Bunge North America Inc., a voluntary recall of 64,800 pounds of its NH European Style Butter Blend on July 14 was initiated. This is because milk may have not have been listed on the product, reports NewsWeek. The FDA later issued a Class II risk classification for the recall on Thursday. The FDA considers Class II recalls to be situations 'in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.' A Class II risk classification (one of three) refers to a situation in which the "use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," according to the FDA. ALSO READ: Tropical Storm Gil strengthens to become hurricane, urgent alert issued for Hawaii, California travellers As defined in the law, milk is one of the nine major food allergens. The other items include eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. Allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms, such as hives and lip swelling, to life-threatening complications, such as anaphylaxis, that may include fatal respiratory problems. The recalled item is NH European Style Butter Blend, totaling 64,800 Code: 1 00 78684 73961 2Lot Code: 5064036503Packaging: White paperboard cases, each containing 36 affected cases were distributed to 12 distribution centers across the United States and one center in the Dominican Republic. ALSO READ: Trading and cooking event update: How to make cooking recipe in Grow a Garden The FDA, on its website: "People with food allergies should read labels and avoid the foods they are allergic to. The law requires that food labels identify the food source of all major food allergens used to make the food." The Mayo Clinic, on its website: "Milk allergy is an atypical immune system response to milk and products containing milk. It's one of the most common food allergies in children. Cow's milk is the usual cause of milk allergy, but milk from sheep, goats, buffalo and other mammals also can cause a reaction. ALSO READ: Sydney Sweeney and her American Eagle ad campaign face social media storm: Story in 10 points "An allergic reaction usually occurs soon after you or your child consumes milk. Signs and symptoms of milk allergy range from mild to severe and can include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Milk allergy can also cause anaphylaxis — a severe, life-threatening reaction."Dr. Sebastian Lighvani, director of New York Allergy & Asthma PLLC, previously told Newsweek: "Every three minutes in the United States, someone ends up in an emergency room because of an allergic reaction after accidental ingestion of food. So even when we try hard, these reactions are happening. And if you look at the incidence of anaphylaxis, it has skyrocketed in the last five, 10, 20 years. And in the U.S., there's like a 300 to 400 percent increase in the rates of anaphylaxis to foods."
