Supreme Court sides with South Carolina in effort to cut Planned Parenthood funding

USA Today

4 hours ago

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WASHINGTON − An ideologically divided Supreme Court on June 26 sided with South Carolina in its effort to deprive Planned Parenthood of public funding, a decision that is likely to prompt other GOP-led states to take similar action against a health care organization under attack for providing abortion services.
The court's ruling -- over the dissent of the three liberal justices -- that Medicaid patients can't sue over their right to choose their doctor could also limit care options beyond the controversial realm of reproductive care.
The Trump administration had backed South Carolina, after the Justice Department reevaluated its position following the change in administrations.
And anti-abortion groups are pushing Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress to impose a national ban on Planned Parenthood's participation in Medicaid. The organization has said that would have "catastrophic consequences," potentially causing the closure of nearly 200 health centers in 24 states including half the centers that provide abortions.
One third of Planned Parenthood's revenue comes from state and federal government funding, including Medicaid, to provide health services, according to the nonpartisan health research organization KFF.
Defunding Planned Parenthood is longtime GOP goal
Republicans have long sought to defund Planned Parenthood because it performs abortions.
Medicaid, which is funded primarily through federal dollars and operated by states to provide health carefor low-income residents, already prohibits coverage of abortion in most cases.
But South Carolina argues that the money Planned Parenthood gets from the government for providing birth control, cancer screenings, physical exams, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and other health services 'frees up their other funds to provide more abortions.'
The state's Republican governor, Henry McMaster, signed an executive order in 2018 to cut off Medicaid funding. His order was blocked in court.
That was before the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022, prompting South Carolina to ban abortions after the fetus reachesaround six weeks' gestation.
Lower court blocked South Carolina from defunding Planned Parenthood
Nearly half of Planned Parenthood patients nationwide get their health care through Medicaid, although that share is lower in South Carolina, which has tighter eligibility rules than most states, according to the organization.
The federal Medicaid Act says eligible people may receive health care 'from any institution, agency, community pharmacy, or person, qualified to perform the service or services required.'
The Supreme Court was asked to review a lower court's decision that the language clearly allows a Medicaid patient to sue if a state blocks a qualified provider from the program.
In this case, the patient was Julie Edwards, a Medicaid recipient whoprefers to go to Planned Parenthood for her reproductive health care because they treat her 'without judgment.' Edwards also said she's had trouble finding doctors willing to see Medicaid recipients.
South Carolina says Medicaid patients have many other options, including 140 federally qualified health clinics and pregnancy centers.
But the American Public Health Association and other health groups told the court more than half of South Carolina's counties don't have enough health services to meet demand and nearly 2 in 5 are considered 'contraceptive deserts.'
Planned Parenthood 'fills the gaps where South Carolina's providers are scarcest ‒ women's health and preventative care ‒ lessening the burden on other parts of the state's healthcare system,' various health care policy experts, advocates and providers in South Carolina told the Supreme Court.
Without Medicaid reimbursements, the organization maynot be able to continuedelivering services 'in the same manner we have been' and may need to reduce hours at its South Carolina clinics, the organization said in a filing.
But Dr. Katherine Farris, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said before Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic was argued that, regardless of the outcome, their 'doors will stay open.'