NEW FEDERAL RULES ARE CHANGING HOW MEDICAID FUNDING CAN BE USED FOR FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES – AND SOME HEALTH PROVIDERS SAY IT COULD MAKE ACCESS TO CARE HARDER FOR LOW-INCOME PATIENTS. NBC5’S CHARLOTTE HANCOX EXPLAINS WHAT’S BEHIND THE CHANGES AND HOW LOCAL CLINICS ARE PREPARING. THE CHANGES STEM FROM NEW FEDERAL RULES THAT RESTRICT MEDICAID FUNDING FOR SOME FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES… INCLUDING IN MAINE, WHERE MAINE FAMILY PLANNING HAS BEEN AFFECTED. UNDER THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, “PROHIBITED ENTITIES” CAN’T RECEIVE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS FOR ONE YEAR. THAT INCLUDES NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND ESSENTIAL PROVIDERS THAT USE THAT FUNDING FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES. <Jeff McKee / Chief executive officer at Community Health Centers “we have a lot of concern. Right. So, reproductive health care, services, really important to all of our patients. It’s at some level and it’s a, you know, anything that that, restricts access to health care is concerning to us.”> JEFF MCKEE IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS IN VERMONT. THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED, NON-PROFIT NETWORK OFFERS AFFORDABLE CARE. AND WHILE IT’S NOT AT RISK OF CLOSING NOW… MCKEE EXPECTS TO SEE MORE PATIENTS AS MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY SHRINKS NEXT YEAR. <Jeff McKee / Chief executive officer at Community Health Centers “We’re already somewhat understaffed in our provider group. We’re going to have new patients needing to get in. And that’s just, a recipe that’s really hard to, to work through.”> SUPPORTERS OF THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL SAY ááNO CUTS WILL BE MADE TO BENEFITS. NEW YORK CONGRESSWOMAN, ELISE STEFANIK HAS SAID THAT MEDICAID PROGRAMS ARE JUST áMISMANAGED. AND THAT FUNDS SHOULD BENEFIT THOSE “TRULY IN NEED” BY VERIFYING ELIGIBILITY. BUT PEOPLE LIKE MCKEE WORRY CHANGES COULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO GET ROUTINE CARE. <Jeff McKee / Chief executive officer at Community Health Centers “the need for health care does not go down right. The need for health care just gets shifted from the primary care office and upstream services to really expensive hospital level care in emergency services.”> PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS BEEN A FOCUS FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ADVOCATES SINCE THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL PASSED. BUT JESSICA BARQUIST, WITH THE NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER…SAYS THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES STI TESTING, CANCER SCREENINGS, AND OTHER CARE áIN ADDITION TO ABORTION. <Jessica Barquist / VP of Public affairs for PPNE “They are closing, their primary care in particular. And that is a result of, the HR one or what is being called the big beautiful Bill and the loss of Medicaid funding for planned family planning services.”> VERMONT’S SIX CLINICS AREN’T CLOSING NOW. BUT IF THEY áDID, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ON HUNDREDS MORE PATIENTS. <Jeff McKee / Chief executive officer at Community Health Centers “They’ve worked really hard to keep services accessible and open, but it still, has an impact on our patients who are concerned about access to that care. We often share parent patients with Planned Parenthood.”> MEDICAL PROVIDERS SUGGEST YOU STAY INFORMED BEFORE CHAN
Vermont health care clinics share concern amid new federal rules that restrict Medicaid funding
A network of free clinics in Maine is shutting down primary care services after losing Medicaid reimbursements. Now, it is raising concerns for similar providers here in Vermont.
Updated: 12:42 PM EDT Oct 13, 2025
A network of free clinics in Maine is shutting down primary care services after losing Medicaid reimbursements. Now, it is raising concerns for similar providers here in Vermont. The changes stem from new federal rules that restrict Medicaid funding. That also applies to some family planning services, including in Maine, where Maine Family Planning has been affected. Under the Big Beautiful Bill, “prohibited entities” cannot receive Medicaid reimbursements for one year. That includes non-profit organizations and essential providers that use that funding for family planning services.”We have a lot of concern. Reproductive health care services really important to all of our patients at some level. Anything that restricts access to health care is concerning to us,” said Jeff McKee, the chief executive officer for Community Health Centers in Vermont.The federally-qualified, nonprofit network offers affordable care. While it is not at risk of closing now, Mckee said he expects to see more patients as Medicaid eligibility shrinks next year. “We’re already somewhat understaffed in our provider group. We’re going to have new patients needing to get in. That’s just a recipe that’s really hard to work through,” he said. Supporters of the Big Beautiful Bill said no cuts will be made to benefits. New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has said that Medicaid programs are just mismanaged, and that funds should benefit those “truly in need” by verifying eligibility. But people like McKee worry changes could make it harder for families to get routine care.”The need for health care does not go down. The need for health care just gets shifted from the primary care office and upstream services to really expensive hospital level care in emergency services,” he said. Planned Parenthood has been a focus for reproductive health advocates since the Big Beautiful Bill passed.But Jessica Barquist, with the New England chapter of Planned Parenthood said the organization provides sexually transmitted infection testing, cancer screenings, and other care in addition to abortion.”They are closing, primary care in particular. That is a result of the Big Beautiful Bill and the loss of Medicaid funding for planned family planning services,” Barquist said. Vermont’s six clinics aren’t closing now, but if they did, Community Health Centers would have to take on hundreds more patients.”They’ve worked really hard to keep services accessible and open, but it still has an impact on our patients who are concerned about access to that care. We often share parent patients with Planned Parenthood,” McKee said. Medical providers suggest you stay informed before changes to Medicaid take effect next year, and make sure you know what your coverage plan requires.
A network of free clinics in Maine is shutting down primary care services after losing Medicaid reimbursements. Now, it is raising concerns for similar providers here in Vermont.
The changes stem from new federal rules that restrict Medicaid funding. That also applies to some family planning services, including in Maine, where Maine Family Planning has been affected.
Under the Big Beautiful Bill, “prohibited entities“ cannot receive Medicaid reimbursements for one year. That includes non-profit organizations and essential providers that use that funding for family planning services.
“We have a lot of concern. Reproductive health care services [are] really important to all of our patients at some level. Anything that restricts access to health care is concerning to us,” said Jeff McKee, the chief executive officer for Community Health Centers in Vermont.
The federally-qualified, nonprofit network offers affordable care. While it is not at risk of closing now, Mckee said he expects to see more patients as Medicaid eligibility shrinks next year.
“We’re already somewhat understaffed in our provider group. We’re going to have new patients needing to get in. That’s just a recipe that’s really hard to work through,” he said.
Supporters of the Big Beautiful Bill said no cuts will be made to benefits.
New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has said that Medicaid programs are just mismanaged, and that funds should benefit those “truly in need” by verifying eligibility.
But people like McKee worry changes could make it harder for families to get routine care.
“The need for health care does not go down. The need for health care just gets shifted from the primary care office and upstream services to really expensive hospital level care in emergency services,” he said.
Planned Parenthood has been a focus for reproductive health advocates since the Big Beautiful Bill passed.
But Jessica Barquist, with the New England chapter of Planned Parenthood said the organization provides sexually transmitted infection testing, cancer screenings, and other care in addition to abortion.
“They are closing, primary care in particular. That is a result of the Big Beautiful Bill and the loss of Medicaid funding for planned family planning services,” Barquist said.
Vermont’s six clinics aren’t closing now, but if they did, Community Health Centers would have to take on hundreds more patients.
“They’ve worked really hard to keep services accessible and open, but it still has an impact on our patients who are concerned about access to that care. We often share parent patients with Planned Parenthood,” McKee said.
Medical providers suggest you stay informed before changes to Medicaid take effect next year, and make sure you know what your coverage plan requires.