The State Emergency Board on Nov. 18 approved $7.5 million in emergency funding for Oregon Planned Parenthood centers to backfill the loss of Medicaid reimbursements due to the Trump administration’s federal budget reconciliation bill.
The Oregon Health Authority, which has grant agreements with Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette and Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon, made a request to the board for $10 million.
The funds will cover services provided to Oregon Health Plan members.
Under the reconciliation bill, federal Medicaid funds cannot be used for any “prohibited entity,” which includes Planned Parenthood.
The Planned Parenthood affiliates reported a revenue funding gap of about 50% caused by not receiving reimbursements and would not be able to continue covering costs without intervention, a news release said.
“Today is a win for access to affordable, essential health care – and we’re grateful to Governor Kotek and Democratic legislative leadership for taking swift action,” Christopher Coburn, executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Oregon, said in the release. “This emergency funding won’t replace all of the lost Medicaid dollars, but it’s meaningful, it’s critical, and it keeps doors open while we continue working with state leaders on longer-term solutions.”
Oregon’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates, which run 12 health centers, receive about 100,000 annual visits. About 60 to 70% of patients are covered by Medicaid and OHP.
In the 2025 fiscal year, Oregon’s Planned Parenthoods reported an estimated $20.2 million in Medicaid payment claims, including federal and state funds.
“With the state’s partnership, Oregonians can continue to rely on Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings, birth control, STI treatment, vaccines, and other essential care,” Coburn said. “We’ll keep fighting to ensure every patient can continue to get the trusted health care they need and deserve.”
While Oregon Democrats supported approval of the emergency funding, House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, criticized the allocation.
“Given the availability and access to other clinics that provide reproductive health care services and Oregon’s strained financial climate, using emergency funding for Planned Parenthood is neither urgent nor necessary,” Elmer said in a statement. “We need to stop the political posturing and get back to listening to what Oregonians want – and use their tax dollars accordingly.”
Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @isabeldfunk
