Supreme Court Backs S.C. Ban on Medicaid to Clinics

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that South Carolina can exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, determining that individual patients and providers cannot sue the state to enforce the right to choose their medical provider under the Medicaid Act. The opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, overturns lower court decisions and may encourage other states to pursue similar measures. Planned Parenthood asserts that most of its Medicaid-funded care involves contraception, cancer screenings, and other non-abortion services, despite federal law already prohibiting Medicaid funding for most abortions. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster praised the decision, emphasizing taxpayers should not fund organizations linked to abortion. Critics argue the ruling will reduce access to essential healthcare for low-income and rural populations, and public health groups warn that blocking such lawsuits could lead to clinic closures and further limit access to reproductive health services. The decision is seen as a significant precedent in the ongoing debate over reproductive rights and Medicaid management.