On August 7, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) joined Planned Parenthood representatives, healthcare providers, and West Hollywood city officials to announce the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, a bicameral bill aimed at repealing a recent Republican-led ban on Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood clinics. The legislation, backed by 134 congressional cosponsors and 15 organizations, seeks to protect access to critical healthcare services for millions of Americans.
“Cancer screenings, STI prevention and detection services, vaccines, prenatal care – those are just some of the critical, life-saving services that Planned Parenthood providers all across the country provide in addition to reproductive care. It is vital healthcare – period. That’s why I’m proud to lead this legislation to protect access to healthcare millions of Americans rely on,” said Representative Friedman. “When the Republicans passed their Big, Bad Bill with this ugly Medicaid ban in it, they weren’t just hurting women, they were condemning Americans to higher healthcare costs and less access to healthcare.”
The bill responds to the closure of five California Planned Parenthood clinics in Gilroy, Santa Cruz, Madera, San Mateo, and South San Francisco, prompted by a federal spending bill signed by President Trump in July 2025 that barred Medicaid funding for organizations providing abortions, even for non-abortion services like STI testing and cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA), which facilitated over 260,000 patient visits last year, emphasized the ongoing need for care. “PPLA provided more than 260,000 patient visits last year for birth control, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, abortion and more. The need for that care hasn’t changed with the signing of this bill. Our doors stay open,” said Claudia Estrada Powell, Interim Director of Community Engagement and Public Affairs for PPLA.
West Hollywood Vice Mayor John Heilman highlighted the local impact, particularly on HIV prevention. “On behalf of our mayor and city council, I’m here to express our strong support for this important initiative and legislation,” Heilman said. “As a community, West Hollywood was hit hard by HIV, particularly in the early days. But we learned that you can prevent the spread of this disease — if you provide accurate information, testing, and treatment. When those services are available, we can reduce transmission to zero. Cutting funding to Planned Parenthood interferes with our efforts to stop the spread of HIV and other STDs.”
Councilmember John Erickson, a former Vice President at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, addressed the broader implications. “This act is critical to making sure we are saving lives,” Erickson said. “West Hollywood was the first pro-choice city in the nation in the ’90s, and here we are again — still fighting the same fight. This attack on reproductive healthcare is wrong. It affects all members of our communities — whether you are straight, LGBTQ, or however you identify. Plannedರ
The legislation, led by Friedman, Nikema Williams (GA-5), and Chris Pappas (NH-1) in the House, and Senators Tina Smith (MN) and Patty Murray (WA) in the Senate, is endorsed by groups including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund. A recording of the announcement is available online.
What nonsense. No American is losing Medicaid. There is just a very “low bar” work requirement for able bodies.
But illegals will be kicked off. American taxpayers are grateful.