A federal judge has scheduled a hearing to consider Planned Parenthood's effort to expand a lawsuit challenging Arkansas' decision to block Medicaid funds to the organization over videos secretly recorded by an anti-abortion group.
U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Monday scheduled a hearing for Jan. 14 on Planned Parenthood's motion seeking class-action status for its lawsuit challenging the termination. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson in August announced he was terminating the contract over the videos.
The state has asked Baker to reject the request and sought a hearing on the matter.
Baker in October issued a preliminary injunction ordering Arkansas to pay for the services for the three unidentified plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Her decision allows the state to ban the funding in other circumstances.
