Court Ruling Allows States to Restrict Medicaid Providers
WASHINGTON — In a 6–3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that South Carolina can lawfully exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, effectively limiting the organization’s access to public funding for services provided to low-income residents.
The case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, centered on whether individuals can sue under federal civil rights law to enforce the Medicaid Act’s provision allowing patients to choose qualified healthcare providers. The Court’s majority held that private individuals do not have the right to sue the state over this provision.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, emphasized that determining whether new legal rights can be enforced through private lawsuits is a matter best left to elected lawmakers. He noted that such lawsuits could divert public funds away from services and toward litigation.
Dissent Raises Concerns Over Civil Rights Protections
In dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson—joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan—argued the ruling could deprive Medicaid beneficiaries of their ability to challenge provider restrictions. She stated the decision undermines long-standing civil rights protections and leaves patients with fewer options for care.
Background on the Dispute
The legal battle began in 2018 when South Carolina’s governor issued an executive order declaring abortion providers unqualified to deliver family planning services through Medicaid. The state subsequently canceled its provider agreements with Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which operates clinics in Charleston and Columbia.
Planned Parenthood and a patient filed suit, asserting the state violated their right to choose a qualified provider. Lower courts sided with the plaintiffs and blocked the state’s actions, but Thursday’s Supreme Court decision overturned that outcome.
Implications Beyond South Carolina
Although the case did not directly address abortion, it is expected to influence similar efforts in other states. South Carolina currently bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and federal Medicaid funding for abortion remains limited to cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.
Planned Parenthood representatives criticized the decision, warning it may reduce healthcare access for thousands of Medicaid patients who rely on the organization for cancer screenings, exams, and other non-abortion services.
What Comes Next
With this ruling, South Carolina is now cleared to fully exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program. Other states with similar laws may follow suit, further shaping the national landscape for publicly funded reproductive healthcare.
