Montana court restores abortion access for Medicaid patients

HELENA, Mont. — A Montana District Court has restored access to abortion care for Medicaid patients after ruling that two bills and an amendment to the Montana Administrative Rules are unconstitutional, according to court documents.

The plaintiffs, including Planned Parenthood of Montana, All Families Healthcare, and Blue Mountain Clinic, argued the bills and rule would have targeted low-income Montanans by restricting their access to abortion care.

The restrictions would have required only doctors to provide abortion care and severely limited Medicaid patients' abortion care coverage.

In a joint statement, the plaintiffs said, "Montanans made their voices heard last year when they voted to further protect abortion rights, sending a clear message that politicians have no place in exam rooms. With this win, we will continue our fight to ensure everyone in Montana can make their own decisions about their own lives."