Planned Parenthood v. Betlach, No. 12-17558 (9th Cir. 2013)
Annotate this CasePlanned Parenthood and others filed suit challenging Ariz. Rev. Stat. 35-196.05(B) as a violation of the federal Medicaid Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396a. Ariz. Rev. Stat. 35-196.05(B) barred patients eligible for the state's Medicaid program from obtaining covered family planning services through health care providers who performed abortions in cases other than medical necessity, rape, or incest. The court concluded that the district court's entry of final judgment and a permanent injunction mooted Arizona's appeal of the district court's preliminary injunction. Therefore, the court dismissed that appeal (Case No. 12-17558), and considered only Arizona's appeal of the summary judgment order and permanent injunction (Case No. 13-15506). The court held that the Medicaid Act's free-choice-of-provider requirement conferred a private right of action under 42 U.S.C. 1983. The court also held that the Arizona statute contravenes the Medicaid Act's requirement that states give Medicaid recipients a free choice of qualified provider. Accordingly, the court affirmed the district court's summary judgment and permanent injunction.
Court Description: Civil Rights. The panel affirmed the district court’s summary judgment and permanent injunction, and also dismissed an appeal of the district court’s preliminary injunction, in this action challenging an Arizona statute that bars patients eligible for the state’s Medicaid program from obtaining covered family planning services through health care providers who perform abortions in cases other than medical necessity, rape, or incest. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 35-196.05(B). The panel held that the Medicaid Act’s free-choice-of- provider requirement, 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(23), confers a private right of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The panel then held that the Arizona statute contravenes the Medicaid Act’s requirement that states give Medicaid recipients a free choice of qualified provider. The panel held that the Arizona law violates this requirement by precluding Medicaid patients from using medical providers concededly qualified to perform family planning services to patients in Arizona generally, solely on the basis that those providers separately perform privately funded, legal abortions. The panel dismissed Arizona’s appeal from the district court’s preliminary injunction on the grounds that the district court’s entry of final judgment and a permanent injunction mooted the appeal.
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