The United States Supreme Court this week ruled that a South Carolina woman and Planned Parenthood do not have a legal right, known as standing, to bring a lawsuit challenging South Carolina’s decision to exclude Planned Parenthood from the state’s Medicaid program. The decision means that states can effectively prohibit Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from receiving public funds for non-abortion services.
The case–Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic–stems from a 2018 executive order from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster that cut off public funds to two Planned Parenthood facilities in the state. While federal law prohibits Medicaid payments for abortion, Planned Parenthood can receive funds for other services. The plaintiffs sued and won at the district court and court of appeals. In a 6-3 decision, the high court reversed.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, held that a provision of the Medicaid Act requiring states to ensure that Medicaid patients can obtain care from “any qualified provider” does not create the kind of clear and unambiguous right to allow private lawsuits alleging violations of the provision.
Bishop Daniel Thomas, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised the decision. “South Carolina was right to deny Planned Parenthood taxpayer dollars. A group dedicated to ending children’s lives deserves no public support,” Thomas said. “Abortion is not health care, and lives will be saved because South Carolina has chosen to not fund clinics that pretend it is. Publicly funded programs like Medicaid should only support authentic, life-affirming options for mothers and children in need.”