A federal appeals court ruled against South Carolina’s bid to cut Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, stating it would infringe on patients’ rights to choose their healthcare provider. This marks the third time the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thwarted the state’s efforts to defund the organization over abortion services.
Planned Parenthood’s president, Alexis McGill Johnson, hailed the decision, emphasizing that it ensures individuals with low incomes can access trusted Medicaid providers.
The South Atlantic affiliate of Planned Parenthood operates clinics in Charleston and Columbia, offering various healthcare services, including abortions, to Medicaid-covered patients.
The court’s unanimous decision, articulated by Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, underlined Medicaid beneficiaries’ entitlement to select from qualified healthcare providers, among which Planned Parenthood is included.
The legal battle ensued in 2018 when Governor Henry McMaster directed state officials to terminate Planned Parenthood’s involvement in South Carolina’s Medicaid program. Planned Parenthood, along with patient Julie Edwards, filed suit against this directive, resulting in ongoing litigation.
While South Carolina’s Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office did not immediately respond to the ruling, the decision underscores a broader trend of Republican-led states aiming to curtail abortion access following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
South Carolina itself passed a restrictive abortion law upheld by its highest court in August, banning the procedure after about six weeks.
The federal court’s intervention represents a victory for reproductive rights advocates, safeguarding Medicaid patients’ access to a range of healthcare providers. The ongoing legal saga underscores the contentious landscape surrounding abortion rights in the United States.
