A proposal designed to preserve access to preventive reproductive health services cleared the Oregon House this week, setting the stage for the state to maintain funding for Planned Parenthood clinics if federal reimbursement restrictions take effect.
The measure was introduced in response to federal budget language adopted in July 2025 that blocks certain health care providers identified as “prohibited entities” from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for a one-year period. The policy is widely understood to target Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide, raising concerns among health providers and state officials about the potential impact on patients who rely on the organization for routine medical care.
In Oregon, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and Planned Parenthood Southern Oregon operate a combined network of eleven health centers throughout the state, along with one clinic in Vancouver, Washington. According to program data, those facilities collectively recorded nearly 100,000 patient visits during the 2025 fiscal year. Many of those visits involve patients covered through the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program.
Supporters of the legislation say the goal is to ensure that patients receiving services through those clinics do not experience disruptions if federal reimbursement policies prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid payments.
“This bill ensures that Oregonians can continue to access affordable, health care from Planned Parenthood. Tens of thousands of Oregonians will benefit,” said House Majority Leader Ben Bowman of Tigard following the vote. “Oregon is reaffirming its role as a national leader in protecting comprehensive preventative health care.”
Planned Parenthood clinics provide a broad range of medical services beyond abortion care, including cancer screenings, contraception, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, annual wellness exams, and other reproductive health services. Federal law under the Hyde Amendment already prohibits federal Medicaid funds from being used for abortion services, meaning reimbursements are limited to other forms of medical care delivered at these clinics.
Advocates for maintaining funding say those preventive services play a significant role in early detection and treatment of health conditions.
Representative Jules Walters Hartman of Gladstone shared a personal perspective on the issue, noting that access to timely screening once played a critical role in her own health experience.
“Without Planned Parenthood, I wouldn’t have been able to get in quickly for a screening, and I may have faced a dangerous delay in learning that I had cancer,” Hartman said. “Access to timely, affordable preventive care literally changed the trajectory of my life, which is why reimbursement for these essential services matters to me so deeply.”
Backers of the proposal argue that federal policy changes could create gaps in care if clinics are unable to receive reimbursements through Medicaid programs. The measure passed by the House seeks to prevent those disruptions by allowing Oregon to step in with state funding should federal reimbursements be blocked.
Representative Travis Nelson Dobson of Happy Valley said the legislation is intended to protect access to services that many residents depend on.
“When Washington, D.C. politicians try to take away essential healthcare from Oregonians, and close clinics as part of a back-door abortion ban, we have to stand up for the people of this state and say no,” Dobson said.
Supporters also emphasize that the measure is aimed at maintaining continuity of care for patients across the state who rely on Medicaid coverage.
Representative Courtney Rieke Smith of Wilsonville said the proposal focuses on ensuring access to essential health services regardless of a patient’s financial circumstances.
“Passage of this measure is about keeping our promises to Oregonians who rely on Medicaid for basic, lifesaving reproductive health care,” Rieke Smith said. “This bill makes clear that no matter your ZIP code, income, or immigration status, you deserve timely access to care.”
Health policy leaders say the legislation arrives during a period of uncertainty for reproductive health providers across the country, particularly in states where federal funding decisions could reshape how clinics operate.
Representative Rob Nosse of Portland, who chairs the House Committee on Health Care, said the measure is intended to provide stability for both patients and providers during a period of shifting national policy.
“At a time when federal actions have created deep uncertainty for patients and providers across the country, Oregon is stepping forward with a thoughtful approach that provides stability for the tens of thousands of Oregonians who rely on Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, annual exams, and long-acting birth control,” Nosse said.
With House approval secured, the proposal now moves forward in the legislative process as policymakers continue to debate how states should respond to federal funding restrictions affecting reproductive health providers. Supporters say the measure reflects Oregon’s longstanding approach to maintaining access to preventive health care services and ensuring that residents can continue receiving routine medical care without interruption.