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U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Patients' Rights, Allows S.C. to Target Planned Parenthood South Atlantic [1]

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Date: 2025-06

Planned Parenthood May Be Excluded from the Medicaid Program in South Carolina



Press call at 11:30 am ET; RSVP here



WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSAT) that Medicaid patients cannot sue to enforce their right to see their qualified provider of choice. This means South Carolinians enrolled in Medicaid may ultimately no longer be able to use their coverage at PPSAT for birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and other preventive health care.

While the immediate impact of this decision is limited to South Carolina, other states could move to block people with Medicaid coverage from going to health care providers for political reasons. This comes as Congress works to take this political agenda nationwide and block people with Medicaid coverage from being able to go to Planned Parenthood for preventive health care in every state across the country.

PPFA and PPSAT will hold a press call at 11:30 am ET; RSVP here.

Statement from Paige Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic:

“Today’s decision is a grave injustice that strikes at the very bedrock of American freedom and promises to send South Carolina deeper into a health care crisis. Twice, justices of this Court denied to even hear this case because Gov. McMaster’s intent is clear: weaponize anti-abortion sentiment to deprive communities with low incomes of basic health care.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic will continue to operate and offer care in South Carolina, including for people enrolled in Medicaid. To our patients, we will do everything in our power to ensure you can get the care you need at low or no cost to you. Know that we are still here for you, and we will never stop fighting for you to reclaim the rights and dignity you deserve.”

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Today, the Supreme Court once again sided with politicians who believe they know better than you, who want to block you from seeing your trusted health care provider and making your own health care decisions. And the consequences are not theoretical in South Carolina or other states with hostile legislatures. Patients need access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and more. And right now, lawmakers in Congress are trying to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood as part of their long-term goal to shut down Planned Parenthood and ban abortion nationwide. Make no mistake, the attacks are ongoing and Planned Parenthood will continue to do everything possible to show up in communities across the country and provide care.”

Currently, 20% of South Carolinians — over 1 million — receive health care services through the Medicaid program, and approximately 5% of those recipients sought sexual and reproductive health care services at PPSAT so far this year.

Medina v. PPSAT was originally filed by the patient plaintiff Julie Edwards and PPSAT in 2018 after Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order that sought to remove PPSAT as an eligible Medicaid provider. The district court decisions holding that South Carolina could not exclude PPSAT from its Medicaid programs were affirmed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019, 2022, and 2024.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSAT) is a nonprofit health care provider offering a wide range of affordable and reliable reproductive and sexual health care services in 14 locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. PPSAT provides abortion services in North Carolina (Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, and Wilmington), South Carolina (Columbia and Charleston), and Virginia (Roanoke and Charlottesville).

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[1] Url: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/u-s-supreme-court-rules-against-patients-rights-allows-s-c-to-target-planned-parenthood-south-atlantic

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