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Leavenworth County to continue family‑planning services through year while seeking legal review after Title X funding removal
Summary
County health officials reported the state removed approximately $73,000 in Title X family‑planning funding. Commissioners instructed staff to seek an attorney general opinion, file an administrative appeal and temporarily fund services through year‑end while they reassess 2026 funding.
Leavenworth County health staff told commissioners the county’s Title X family‑planning grant—about $73,000—has been removed by the state because of a local parental‑involvement policy that is at odds with Title X requirements.
Jamie (surname not specified), representing the county health department, said the loss jeopardizes family‑planning services that refer patients into the KU health system for prenatal and reproductive care. The health department estimates roughly 400 people a year use the preventive services tied to the grant; some clients are uninsured or underinsured.
County legal and administrative staff advised commissioners on two parallel steps: seek an attorney general’s opinion about whether Kansas should follow the Texas federal‑court outcome (which allowed a similar parental‑notification policy while keeping Title X funds in that instance) and file an administrative appeal with the state to preserve the county’s funding while the legal question is resolved.
Commissioners agreed that the county should pursue those actions. County administrators also told the board that the county can temporarily cover the gap for the remainder of 2025 using general fund resources and that a budget amendment is likely to be presented in December if reimbursement from state or federal sources does not materialize.
Health‑department details: Jamie said the department recently purchased a handheld ultrasound device (approximately $3,000–$5,000) and that the Title X program provided access pathways into the KU prenatal system for residents who otherwise face access barriers, including lack of insurance and transportation.
Why it matters: County leaders said losing Title X funding would reduce access to preventive and prenatal services for uninsured and underinsured residents and could increase barriers to maternal care in the county. Commissioners directed staff to pursue legal remedies and to ensure services continue through the current year while a longer‑term plan for 2026 is developed.
Next steps: County legal staff will draft a request for an attorney general opinion and the administrator will file an administrative appeal with the state. Commissioners asked staff to return with options and budget implications in December.
