Hearing On Planned Parenthood Suit Set For Thursday

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker has set a hearing for Thursday (Sept. 17) in a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland regarding Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s order to cancel all state Medicaid contracts with the organization.

The suit was filed Friday asking the judge to overturn the order and seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. The order takes effect as of today. On Friday, Baker scheduled the hearing for 2 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Richard Sheppard Arnold United States Courthouse, Courtroom 4C.

The state last year reimbursed the organization $139,456.11 for family planning, pharmacy and gynecological services but not for abortions. Planned Parenthood performs chemical abortions at its locations in Little Rock and Fayetteville.

On Aug. 14, Hutchinson cancelled the state’s agreements with Planned Parenthood after the Center for Medical Progress released a series of undercover videos showing members of the national Planned Parenthood organization discussing selling aborted fetal tissue.

Planned Parenthood claims that federal law prohibits excluding any qualified Medicaid provider. The case was filed on behalf of three anonymous Medicaid patients. John Selig, director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, is listed as the defendant.