Planned Parenthood in South Carolina is launching a legal effort to protect its Medicaid funding after a recent Supreme Court ruling permitted the state to restrict federal financial support.
The organization is contesting Governor Henry McMaster’s directive, which restricts Medicaid funds to clinics performing abortions.
The complaint requests federal judges to intervene and allow Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSAT) to continue as a Medicaid provider.
PPSAT operates two clinics in the Palmetto State, offering essential non-abortion services like cancer screenings, annual health check-ups, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. However, McMaster’s directive states that as an abortion provider, Planned Parenthood shouldn’t receive taxpayer dollars.
“What started as a focus on abortion has evolved into a broader assault on vital preventive care,” said Paige Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. “Our aim is to deliver high-quality, comprehensive health care, and this attempt to cut off Medicaid access is both politically motivated and unconstitutional.”
While Medicaid generally does not cover most abortions, Planned Parenthood does not receive state or federal reimbursement for the abortions it provides.
Abortions are permitted only under specific conditions: within the first six weeks of pregnancy, during certain medical emergencies, or in cases of rape and incest.
This latest legal action follows a 2018 lawsuit involving Planned Parenthood and Medicaid patients that reached the Supreme Court.
A judge ruled in June that he could not allow individual Medicaid patients to sue for their right to choose their healthcare provider, effectively blocking them from accessing Medicaid funding in South Carolina.
Other states like Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri have already barred Planned Parenthood from treating Medicaid patients, and the organization anticipates that more Republican-led states may follow suit.
The current complaint targets both executive orders and budget measures passed by the South Carolina General Assembly that aim to cut federal funds to PPSAT.
“This case isn’t about the legality of abortion. It’s more about ensuring access to essential health care services provided by Planned Parenthood,” the complaint asserts.
The lawsuit also cautions that removing Planned Parenthood from Medicaid could severely impact its ability to deliver a range of non-abortion-related care, potentially forcing clinics to turn away patients who lack alternative options.
This legal challenge coincides with a nationwide push by Planned Parenthood to combat new laws restricting Medicaid access for clinics. A federal judge has temporarily halted these provisions from taking effect.
