Planned Parenthood’s Role in Virginia Health Care — What’s at Stake if It’s Defunded?

From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:

To: Media and Interested Parties
From: Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of  Virginia
Date: May 12, 2025
Re:  Planned Parenthood’s Role in Virginia Health Care — What’s at Stake if It’s Defunded?

[…]

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, congressional Republicans announced their plan to cut Medicaid,  a vital program providing health care for millions of low-income and disabled families, and prohibit patients from using Planned Parenthood as a provider. Nearly 25,000 Virginians relied on Planned Parenthood health centers for care last year — from birth control and cancer screenings to STI treatment. But that access is at risk. This push to “defund” Planned Parenthood would block patients from using Medicaid — a primary way to pay for care.

Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia: 

“This isn’t about Planned Parenthood. It’s about whether tens of thousands of Virginians can keep getting the care they count on. No politician should decide who gets health care and who doesn’t. These are personal, private decisions between patients and their providers. Planned Parenthood isn’t just a provider — it’s a pillar of the health care system in Virginia. Without it, tens of thousands of Virginians — especially those with low-incomes, women and rural families — face the loss of cancer screenings, STI care, contraception, and more. When people delay or are denied care, entire communities suffer. Defunding Planned Parenthood doesn’t save money — it costs Virginia more and leaves people without care. ”

In 2023 alone, Planned Parenthood health centers in Virginia:

• Treated 673 patients with chlamydia — the #1 cause of preventable infertility.
• Flagged 53 potential cervical cancer cases through Pap tests.
• Provided birth control to over 12,000 patients.
• Reached rural and underserved areas that often lack any other SRH provider.

Medicaid & Title X: The Real Targets 

Half of Planned Parenthood’s patients nationwide use Medicaid or Title X — including thousands in Virginia. These programs are lifelines for low-income patients:

• Title X served 31,000 Virginians in 2023.
• Medicaid covered 32,656 births in Virginia.
• The federal government pays up to 90% of these costs — a major return on investment.

Background

On March 31, the Trump administration’s HHS “temporarily withheld” federal Title X funds from Planned Parenthood and other providers.  This is not only extremely unpopular with Americans, but as NOTUS reported last week, it’s counter to the concerns of several moderate Republicans who oppose “defunding” Planned Parenthood.

In the coming days, some politicians will use misinformation and lies to smear the providers at Planned Parenthood health centers and minimize the catastrophic harm of their proposals. Here’s the truth:

• One in three women have been to a Planned Parenthood health center for care, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
• Planned Parenthood is more popular than any elected official or party, and voters do not want politicians interfering in their health care.
• Nearly 8 in 10 (77%) voters oppose the Trump administration taking away funds used for birth control for people with low incomes at Planned Parenthood health centers. This includes 63% of Trump voters.
• Medicaid is widely popular with Americans across political lines.
• Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) — including more than half of Trump voters (55%) — oppose Congress taking away funds from Planned Parenthood health centers for providing birth control, wellness exams, and cancer screenings.
• For many people, Planned Parenthood health centers are their only source of health care. Sixty-four percent of Planned Parenthood health centers across the country are in medically underserved areas, rural areas, or areas with health professional shortages. More than half of Planned Parenthood patients are enrolled in Medicaid.

###