Planned Parenthood asks judge to expand Arkansas case

LITTLE ROCK — Planned Parenthood is asking a federal judge to expand a ruling that temporarily blocked Arkansas from cutting off Medicaid payments for three patients.

The organization filed a request late Monday seeking class-action status for its lawsuit challenging Gov. Asa Hutchinson's termination of Planned Parenthood's contract with the state.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a preliminary injunction requiring the state to pay for the services for the three patients, but her decision allows the state to ban the funding in other circumstances.

In its court filing, Planned Parenthood asks to expand its lawsuit to cover current and future Medicaid patients. It said it had more than 500 such patients last fiscal year.

An attorney general's spokesman said the state is reviewing the filing and will respond in court.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Upcoming Events