The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 5 unanimously approved a motion asking the county executive to send a five‑signature letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, state legislative leaders and the county’s state delegation urging state action to protect Planned Parenthood health centers after a federal change that could bar Planned Parenthood from Medicaid reimbursements.

Background: Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn said they introduced the motion in response to language in federal legislation that county leaders said could be applied to strip Planned Parenthood affiliates of Medi‑Cal reimbursement, even though federal law already prohibits federal funding for abortion services. The county and Planned Parenthood representatives said Planned Parenthood Los Angeles operates 23 clinics in the county, provides roughly 250,000 patient visits a year and offers a wide range of services besides abortion — including cancer screenings, contraceptive care, STI testing and treatment, vaccinations and preventive services that many Medi‑Cal patients rely upon.

Board discussion and community testimony: Speakers from Planned Parenthood, the organization’s Los Angeles affiliates, and community health proponents urged the supervisors to act. Supervisors said the action was both immediate and symbolic — a request that the state secure emergency funding and policy protections so that planned parenthood centers can remain open should federal reimbursement change. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, noting clinics in her district, told the board the impact would be “devastating” to low‑income residents who rely on Planned Parenthood for culturally competent care.

Action taken: The board directed the CEO to prepare the five‑signature letter and transmission to the governor and legislative leaders; motion passed 4–0.

Why it matters: Advocates and medical professionals warned that if Planned Parenthood were excluded from Medi‑Cal reimbursement, patients would face gaps in preventive care and reproductive health services, and closures could worsen health disparities among low‑income and historically underserved residents.