Neronha, coalition attempt to block ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Planned Parenthood provision

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha joined 22 attorneys general and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in attempting to block a “Big, Beautiful Bill” provision that blocks Planned Parenthood Medicaid reimbursements.

The coalition filed for a preliminary injunction to block the “Defund Provision” of the Trump administration’s cornerstone budget bill that would exclude health centers such as Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for services to low-income patients, according to AG Neronha.

These services typically include cancer screenings, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and birth control.

In a statement from AG Neronha’s Director of Communications Tim Rondeau, Neronha said, in part:

In Rhode Island, we already have primary care shortages, hospitals on the brink of closure, and newly approved increases in health insurance rates which will have families choosing between rent, food, and health insurance coverage. We cannot afford another hit to our health system, and we won’t let this Administration’s unlawful actions make the situation worse.

The injunction was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and argues that “the Defund Provision violates the U.S. Constitution’s Spending Clause due to the lack of clear notice and the inclusion of unconstitutional provisions,” according to Rondeau and AG Neronha.