Court Affirms Arizona Can’t Deny Medicaid Coverage Where Provider Performs Abortions

An Arizona law that bars Medicaid-eligible patients from obtaining covered family planning services through providers who perform abortions violates the Medicaid Act’s free-choice-of-provider requirement, a federal appeals court held Aug. 22 (Planned Parenthood Ariz. Inc. v. Betlach, 9th Cir., 12-17558, 8/22/13).

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling granting summary judgment to the plaintiffs, Planned Parenthood Arizona Inc. and a group of individuals, who filed a lawsuit to prevent Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 35-196.05(B), known as H.B. 2800, from taking effect (22 HLR 323, 2/21/13). The named defendants ...