Planned Parenthood Challenges South Carolina Over Medicaid Ban
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic has taken its fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging South Carolina’s decision to remove it from the state’s Medicaid program. The case centers on whether states can block access to Medicaid funds for health care providers that offer abortion services, even if the funds are used for unrelated treatments like cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing.
The state of South Carolina argues that it has the right to determine which providers qualify for participation in its Medicaid program. In 2018, the state issued an executive order cutting off Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood clinics, citing their involvement in abortion-related care. While no Medicaid dollars are legally permitted to fund abortion procedures, South Carolina claims its broader restriction is consistent with state policy and values.
Planned Parenthood, however, contends that the move is politically motivated and unconstitutional. The organization asserts that the state’s decision punishes low-income patients by denying them access to their provider of choice for essential non-abortion health services. The lawsuit argues that this action violates federal Medicaid law, which guarantees recipients the right to access qualified providers.
Lower courts have delivered mixed rulings in similar cases across the country, creating a legal gray area. Some courts have sided with Planned Parenthood, affirming that Medicaid recipients must retain provider choice. Others have supported states’ rights to define who qualifies under their own Medicaid programs.
Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s involvement could lead to a landmark decision that reshapes the future of Medicaid provider rules and access to reproductive health services nationwide. If the court sides with South Carolina, it could open the door for other conservative-led states to remove Planned Parenthood and similar providers from their Medicaid programs. If the court rules in favor of Planned Parenthood, it would reinforce federal protections and limit states’ ability to impose ideological criteria on healthcare access.
For the roughly 6,000 South Carolinians who rely on Planned Parenthood for basic care under Medicaid, the outcome could directly impact where—and whether—they can receive timely, affordable medical services.
Planned Parenthood argues that politics should never interfere with patient care. “This case isn’t just about Planned Parenthood—it’s about the freedom of low-income people to make decisions about their health without government interference,” said Jenny Black, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
The case is now awaiting oral arguments at the Supreme Court, with a decision expected later this year. It could carry profound consequences for how reproductive health providers are funded and regulated under Medicaid moving forward.
