KSBW 8: New bill aims to restore Medicaid access at Planned Parenthood clinics in California

After clinic closures and care reductions across Northern California, Rep. Laura Friedman’s Restoring Health Care Act seeks to reverse federal restrictions and protect essential services for thousands who rely on Medicaid.

SALINAS, Calif. — Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of sexual and reproductive care in California. So, leaders and Planned Parenthood themselves are adamant on continuing this fight on health care until a solution is reached.

Southern California Congresswoman Laura Friedman introduced the Restoring Health Care Act on Thursday.

This bill would undo what the "big, beautiful bill" prevents: Medicaid access at Planned Parenthood.

During the conference, Friedman said, "The actions of the Republicans in Washington are really about denying people basic health care."

The results of losing Medicare reimbursement caused closures of five locations across northern California, including the clinic in Santa Cruz.

Nearly 70 percent of patients who visited Planned Parenthood on the Central Coast rely on Medicaid for those needs.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte operates the 30 clinics that remain open and is handling its impacts firsthand.

Lauren Babb, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte's chief public affairs officer, said, "This is something that we're dealing with every day, and we remain committed to our patients."

Beyond abortions, patients are also losing access to behavioral health, family medicine, and prenatal care.

Babb said, "Due to the closure, due to defined, we will no longer be able to provide those services. And so we will continue to be one of the largest providers of sexual and reproductive health care. But those services will be harder for folks to gain access to in the communities that we serve."

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte also said what this legislation would mean for the Central Coast.

"It would effectively allow Planned Parenthood clinics that offer reproductive health care to continue to bill Medicaid," Babb said.

As for the Santa Cruz Clinic, Mar Monte is urging everyone affected to keep faith in California's commitment to health care access.

"There's always hope, right? We're going to continue to fight back no matter what. And I think because of the uncertainty of what this administration has done and what this bill needs for our ability to provide health care, our operations team will obviously assess where we're at. And so we are looking forward to continuing the fight, alongside federal, state and local leaders," Babb said.