Summary
The U.S. Supreme Court decided that South Carolina can stop Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding for non-abortion health services. This ruling means that the state can exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, despite previous lower court decisions that supported the organization’s inclusion.
Key Facts
- The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow South Carolina to block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services.
- Medicaid is a federal program that helps with medical costs for people with limited income.
- Federal law restricts Medicaid funding for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother’s life.
- The federal Medicaid law usually allows patients to choose their medical providers.
- South Carolina argued it could exclude providers if state law supports it.
- Planned Parenthood South Atlantic previously provided various health services like cancer screenings in South Carolina.
- Lower courts had favored Planned Parenthood, saying patients could choose their health providers.
- The Supreme Court's ruling reversed these lower court decisions.
