Supreme Court Backs South Carolina’s Ban On Medicaid Funds For Planned Parenthood’s Non-Abortion Services

Supreme Court Backs South Carolina’s Ban On Medicaid Funds For Planned Parenthood’s Non-Abortion Services

 

The Supreme Court just gave South Carolina the green light to block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements… even for non-abortion services like cancer screenings.

On Thursday (June 26), the justices voted 6–3 to uphold the state’s ban, with the conservative majority ruling that individuals cannot sue to enforce a Medicaid provision allowing access to “any qualified and willing provider.” Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch said:

“Though it is rare enough for any statute to confer an enforceable right, spending-power statutes like Medicaid are especially unlikely to do so.”

Liberal justices dissented. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote:

“South Carolina is evading its liability for violating the rights of its Medicaid recipients to choose their own doctors.”

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood is already facing financial difficulties, with at least 34 clinics reportedly closed since last year. In Congress, legislation is also on the table that could cut off all federal funding for the organization.

Thoughts?

[VIA]

Authored by: Aaron Keenan