Supreme Court reviews South Carolina's Medicaid funding cut to Planned Parenthood
- In 2018, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster moved to terminate Planned Parenthood's Medicaid funding, arguing it should not receive public dollars due to its association with abortion services.
- Lower courts have consistently ruled that patients have the right to choose their qualified medical providers, and this legal case is under scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
- The outcome could set a significant precedent for Medicaid funding across the nation and impact access to healthcare for low-income individuals.
In South Carolina, a legal battle over Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood has been ongoing since 2018. Governor Henry McMaster initiated an executive order aimed at terminating the organization's participation in the state's Medicaid program, stating that taxpayer money should not support an organization that provides abortions. This has widespread implications, particularly for low-income individuals who rely on Planned Parenthood's services for essential health care, as there are limited alternative providers available in many parts of the state. Since 2018, courts have been increasingly involved due to the state’s controversial move, with opposing views emerging about whether patients should have the right to choose their health care providers under the Medicaid program.