Colorado House Passes Bill Restoring Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood

In response to a federal law signed by President Donald Trump that ended Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for reproductive health services, Colorado legislators passed Senate Bill 25B-2 to use state funds to cover these costs and maintain access to care. The bill, approved along party lines in the Colorado House and Senate, directs the state's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to reimburse providers like Planned Parenthood for services such as cancer screenings, STI testing, and birth control consultations, which federal Medicaid now excludes. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains reported significant appointment cancellations following the federal funding cut and emphasized their role as primary care providers for many Medicaid patients in Colorado. Despite the state facing a budget shortfall estimated between $700 million and $1.2 billion, Democrats advocated for the bill to ensure continuity of care, while Republicans opposed it citing fiscal concerns. The legislation now awaits Governor Jared Polis' signature to become law. This state-level action aims to circumvent the federal restrictions, which are currently under judicial review, preserving non-abortion health services for Medicaid recipients in Colorado.