By admin TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Arizonans enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program are once again eligible to receive covered services at Planned Parenthood clinics, as of Monday.
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The changes come after a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill — signed into law last July — suspended federal Medicaid funding from the nonprofit for one year.
The restriction left 1.8 million Arizonans who rely on AHCCCS unable to use their insurance at any of the state’s seven Planned Parenthood locations.
Impact on patients
For Planned Parenthood’s Tucson clinic, the funding suspension meant turning away 10% of its patients.
Services affected included birth control, STI testing, and cervical cancer screenings — non-abortion care that had previously been billed to AHCCCS. Abortions have never been covered under Medicaid.
Dr. Colin McCluney, a physician at the clinic, said many patients paid out of pocket or skipped care entirely during the past year.
“It’s been a hard year from that standpoint, just unnecessary suffering,” McCluney said.
McCluney said the population affected includes some of the clinic’s most vulnerable patients.
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“It’s a very large population. It’s often some of our most vulnerable folks. Folks who are at higher risk of complications from illnesses, complications from disease, complications from pregnancy,” McCluney said. “They’re the folks that need the access the most to be able to have their best potential health outcomes.”
Nearly half of all births in Pima County were covered by AHCCCS in 2017, according to the University of Arizona’s Center for Rural Health.
Expanded hours and services
April Donovan, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said the organization was prepared for the funding disruption and will continue to advocate for women’s care, particularly in southern Arizona’s rural communities.
She said additional federal funding cuts remain a possibility.
“We are constantly attacked at Planned Parenthood, and so we kind of know how to handle these things and how to get through and change our business plan very quickly to adjust with these changes,” Donovan said.
In addition to restoring Medicaid coverage, all seven Planned Parenthood centers across Arizona are now open five days a week. Beginning Monday, each location will offer one evening per week with appointments available until 6:10 p.m., with offices closing at 7 p.m.
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