SCOTUS boosts effort to defund Planned Parenthood. It's a win for women's health.
A new Supreme Court ruling could be the beginning of the end of Planned Parenthood's ability to receive Medicaid funding for abortions.
In a 6-3 decision released June 26, the court ruled that patients can't bring a lawsuit challenging South Carolina's decision to halt Planned Parenthood's participation in the state's Medicaid program. The ruling is a win for the pro-life community, women's health and taxpayers.
I can't stand the fact that Planned Parenthood has for decades received taxpayer dollars to perform abortions. I hope now, with the ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, that other states will act to end taxpayer subsidies of Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood has lost big time in this case, and it's long past time.
As a pro-life mom, I'm glad Parenthood Parenthood lost tax dollars
In 2018, South Carolina lawmakers enacted legislation that prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for an abortion. Planned Parenthood subsequently was denied participation in the state's Medicaid program.
State leaders argued that a "variety of other nongovernmental entities and governmental agencies' would continue to provide 'access to necessary medical care and important women's health and family planning services.'
But patient Julie Edwards and Planned Parenthood sued the state, arguing that the organization's exclusion violated the "free choice of provider" clause of the Medicaid program.
A strong majority of justices rejected that argument, clearing the way for not only South Carolina but also other states to cut off tax dollars for the nation's most prominent abortion provider.
Planned Parenthood has been dependent on tax dollars
Taxpayers should never have been forced to pay for abortions, but that's precisely what has happened for many years.
In past years, about 40% of Planned Parenthood's budget − more than $500 billion a year − has come from Medicaid and other government sources.
Apologists for Planned Parenthood claim that abortions are only a small percentage of the services the organization provides. Yet, Planned Parenthood's 2023 annual report, released last year, shows that it performed nearly 400,000 abortions in 2022. That was more than 60% of all the reported abortions in the United States that year.
As a staunch pro-life mom, that makes me nauseous. Taxpayers should not be forced to pay to end a life.
Women need health care, but Planned Parenthood should function without taxpayer subsidies. Thousands of other providers also are available to help women with medical care.
I hope other states will now bar using tax dollars to pay for abortions and ban Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
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