• Posted December 20, 2024

Supreme Court to Decide on South Carolina's Bid to Cut Funding for Planned Parenthood

In a pivotal move, the United States Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it will review South Carolina's controversial decision to cut off state funding for Planned Parenthood clinics, which provide critical health services to low-income residents.

A media report published by The Washington Post shows said that this move was made after the state terminated its agreement with the organization in 2018, citing its provision of abortion services, even though Medicaid does not cover abortion except in specific circumstances required by federal law.

Planned Parenthood, along with a patient, filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that Medicaid recipients should have the right to choose any qualified health provider, including those that offer abortion services, the report shows.

The United States District Court ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood, and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision.

John Bursch, vice president of appellate advocacy at The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing South Carolina's health and human services director, stated in the report that South Carolina should be able to direct funds as it pleases.

“Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used to fund facilities that choose to profit off abortion,” Bursch told The Post. “South Carolina is free to use its limited funding to subsidize life-affirming health care.”

The ADF has urged the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling, pointing out that other appeals courts in Texas and Arkansas have ruled differently in similar cases.

The Supreme Court’s involvement is now crucial to resolving these conflicting rulings.

Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, called the case a critical issue for patient choice.

“Today, the Supreme Court made it clear that people’s ability to choose their sexual and reproductive health care provider is in jeopardy,” Johnson stated. “Patients who use Medicaid as their insurance should have the freedom to get high-quality, affordable health care -- birth control, STI testing and treatment, and life-saving cancer screenings.”

More information

Planned Parenthood has everything you need to know about birth control, abortion, and more.

SOURCE: WAPO, media report