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Supreme Court Rules States Can Drop Planned Parenthood from Medicaid
The Supreme Court ruled that states can block Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, giving them control over healthcare funds and setting a key precedent for similar state actions.

What Happened
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of giving states the legal right to exclude Planned Parenthood from their Medicaid programs. In a 6-3 decision, the Court sided with South Carolina officials, who had previously moved to block the abortion provider from receiving state Medicaid funds. The decision marks a major legal victory for state governments looking to control how taxpayer dollars are spent on healthcare.
The case began after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order preventing Medicaid reimbursements from going to Planned Parenthood. Federal law already prohibits Medicaid from directly funding most abortions. However, Governor McMaster argued that state tax dollars should not support any organization that provides or promotes abortion services, even if those funds go toward other health services. Planned Parenthood sued, claiming Medicaid patients have a federal right to choose their healthcare providers and that the state’s action violated that right.
Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch stated that Medicaid law does not grant patients a private right to sue states over which providers are included in the program.
He emphasized that states have broad authority to determine which healthcare providers qualify for Medicaid. This includes the ability to exclude providers based on their association with abortion services or other concerns.
Why It Matters
This ruling reinforces state sovereignty when it comes to administering healthcare programs funded by both state and federal dollars. It allows states to set standards for which providers qualify for Medicaid, even if those decisions are politically or morally controversial.
For many, this is seen as a necessary step in ensuring that taxpayer money is not indirectly used to support controversial institutions such as Planned Parenthood.
While it is irrefutably a big win in South Carolina, the ruling has national implications as well. It effectively clears the way for other Republican-led states to pursue similar actions to defund Planned Parenthood or other organizations tied to abortion services.
Several states have attempted to do so in recent years but faced legal challenges. With this Supreme Court decision, states now have firmer legal grounds on which to stand.
The Court’s decision also reflects its current conservative majority and its growing willingness to give more power back to the states on contentious social issues.
The ruling does not outlaw Planned Parenthood or block access to abortions directly. However, it does severely limit the organization’s ability to access taxpayer-funded healthcare programs in states that have historically opposed its practices.
How It Affects Readers
For taxpayers who oppose abortion, this ruling ensures that states can prevent their tax dollars from supporting organizations like Planned Parenthood.
It also means state governments can act in alignment with the values of their constituents regarding abortion-related issues without being overruled by federal courts.
For Medicaid recipients, the decision may change where they can access certain services in states that choose to exclude Planned Parenthood. While alternative providers often exist, access may vary by region.
But for now, it's up to individual states to decide which healthcare providers participate in Medicaid, and legal challenges to those decisions will face greater difficulty.