U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson in Kansas City, Kansas, stopped Kansas from cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood.
The temporary ruling comes just two days before the deadline in the state.
"We are thrilled with this outcome. We felt that the law was strongly on our side, and Judge Robinson concurred," said Laura McQuade, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment planned to cut off funding by Thursday for health services offered at Planned Parenthood facilities, such as exams and cancer screenings, for poor patients receiving health coverage through the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid funds do not cover abortions.
The ruling applies to the location in Overland Park and a St. Louis affiliate.
McQuade added, "There's not a Medicaid provider around every corner and so Medicaid patients need to be able to trust a high-quality, specialized reproductive healthcare provider."
Kansans for Life believe differently. State Legislative Director Kathy Ostrowski said, "Planned Parenthood is not the trusted healthcare provider they like to call themselves. Everything they do is poisoned by their abortion provision and advocacy."
The organization believes the state of Kansas should have control when it comes to federal tax money being paid to providers.
Gov. Sam Brownback's office sent the following statement:
"The Governor will continue the fight to make Kansas a pro-life state. We will review today's preliminary ruling and move forward with the litigation."
The ruling is temporary, so the issue will have to be revisited in the future.
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Dia Wall can be reached at dia.wall@kshb.com.
