HFS to increase funding for Planned Parenthood to protect reproductive healthcare access across Illinois

$4 million investment will cover the gap created by the Trump Administration's move to defund Planned Parenthood

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is investing $4 million in Medicaid family planning programming in order to counteract the federal defunding of Planned Parenthood in Trump's budget bill (HR1), as Illinois continues to serve as a beacon for protecting reproductive healthcare access nationally.

The funding will go towards critical services that many Illinoisans rely on, like contraception, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, and cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood provided services for nearly 35,000 Illinois Medicaid customers across the state in 2024 and Illinois received approximately $4 million in federal Medicaid reimbursement for family planning services delivered to Medicaid customers at Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) clinics.

Illinois is stepping in to fill this temporary funding gap to ensure people can access basic health care, which is in furtherance of the Pritzker Administration's efforts to protect widespread reproductive healthcare service availability throughout the state.

Trump's budget bill attempts to prohibit states from making federal payments to certain entities that provide abortion services for one year, a measure that directly targets Planned Parenthood. Abortions are not paid for with federal dollars and are covered on State Medicaid plans with state funds. Legal proceedings are currently underway challenging the federal funding cuts to Planned Parenthood.

"Trump and Congressional Republicans are creating barriers for low-income Illinoisans to access essential care in their communities," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Planned Parenthood represents a lifeline for many Illinoisans seeking essential reproductive healthcare, cancer screenings and more, and Illinois is stepping up to ensure our people continue to have access to these vital services."

"Since Roe fell, Illinois has stepped up to meet the growing need for reproductive health care across the Midwest," said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. "As the federal government targets critical services, the need for Planned Parenthood has only grown. Our administration remains committed to safeguarding access to care and ensuring we protect reproductive freedom and women's health."

In addition to ensuring that Illinoisans have access to critical health services, research from the Guttmacher Institute estimates a cost savings of $7 for every public dollar spent on family planning services. Standard health care provided by Planned Parenthood such as timely treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI), preventing unplanned pregnancies, and more leads to better maternal and child outcomes and helps stem the spread of STIs, resulting in cost savings in public dollars.

"This funding cements Illinois as a leader among states in ensuring that all residents have the right to make their own family planning healthcare decisions with their medical team," said HFS Director Elizabeth M. Whitehorn. "Planned Parenthood health centers provide a range of critical healthcare services for many Illinoisans, and this funding represents our continued commitment to ensuring people can seamlessly access the reproductive care they need."

"Reproductive health is public health," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "This funding provides critical access to basic reproductive health care and preventative screenings for individuals throughout Illinois. IDPH is proud to support HFS and Planned Parenthood as the State of Illinois continues to uplift providers who protect patients, maintain access, and deliver important health care services."

"The Federal Administration has worked hard to reduce access for Medicaid and low-income patients to reproductive health care, including primary care exams, birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing. But today Governor Pritzker is stepping in to protect patients and maintain the State's strong commitment of access to sexual and reproductive health care for everyone," said Adrienne White-Faines, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL). "Thanks to Governor Pritzker, this funding ensures PPIL can continue providing essential, quality health care to people, regardless of their income level."

"The State of Illinois continues to stand up as a beacon of hope and safety for the one in four Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid for their health care," said Margot Riphagen, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. "Backfilling Medicaid payments for Planned Parenthood patients means that our health centers become more stable and can more securely provide preventive care - care like birth control, cancer screenings, wellness exams, STI testing & treatment. Stable access to this essential care makes a real difference in the lives of millions of Illinoisans, and we are grateful to Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for always putting patients first."

Planned Parenthood of Illinois operates 13 health centers across the state and has continued to serve Medicaid patients while legal challenges have proceeded, providing high-quality reproductive healthcare services and medically accurate sexual health education. In addition to PPIL operated facilities in Illinois, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers operates a clinic in Fairview Heights, Illinois which will also receive funding.

Investments in reproductive healthcare also allow individuals to plan pregnancies, better manage maternal health and improve birth outcomes as well. Birth equity for Illinois residents remains a key priority of the Pritzker Administration. This past September, the Illinois Birth Equity Blueprint was released, looking to serve as a roadmap for improved maternal health in the state to help address structural inequalities and barriers to care. Planned Parenthood is an instrumental partner in state efforts to bolster coordination across sectors and more equity-centered data practices.

As of the end of state fiscal year 2025, more than 3.3 million Illinoisans were enrolled in Illinois Medical Assistance programs. Additional reproductive healthcare resources are available here.