Attorney: Kansas delays Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid cutoff

This March 2014 photo shows the Planned Parenthood at 2226 E. Central Ave. in Wichita.

TOPEKA — A Planned Parenthood attorney says Kansas will not cut off Medicaid funding for the abortion provider until May 24.

Attorney Bob Eye said Friday that Planned Parenthood and the state Department of Health and Environment agreed on the timing of the cutoff after Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit.

A department spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

The state notified Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri earlier this week that Medicaid funds would be cut off as of Tuesday. The lawsuit seeking to block the action was filed the next day.

Eye said the parties agreed the two-week delay would give them and the presiding federal judge more time to prepare for a first hearing that is now expected to be May 17.