The U.S. Supreme Court announced a pivotal ruling Thursday, affirming that South Carolina can block Planned Parenthood from participating in its Medicaid program. The decision came in a 6–3 vote and reversed an earlier ruling by the Fourth Circuit, which had stated that an individual Medicaid recipient could sue the state to maintain access to the provider.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, who authored the majority opinion, explained that federal Medicaid law does not clearly grant patients the right to sue if a state chooses to exclude a medical provider. The state, Gorsuch said, has the right to determine which providers can qualify for its program, drawing a comparison to instances where a doctor convicted of a felony could be barred. According to Gorsuch, if Planned Parenthood disagrees with its exclusion, it can pursue an administrative review within the state.
The ruling drew a strong dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. “At a minimum, it will deprive Medicaid recipients in South Carolina of their only meaningful way of enforcing a right that Congress has expressly granted to them,” she argued. The dissent warned that the decision could have far‑reaching implications for how Medicaid rights are enforced nationally.
The decision arrives as a victory for South Carolina’s Republican leaders. Governor Henry McMaster, a staunch pro‑life advocate, celebrated the ruling. “Seven years ago, we took a stand to protect the sanctity of life and defend South Carolina’s authority and values — and today, we are finally victorious,” he stated. The state cited its own statute forbidding the use of taxpayer money for abortions. Under federal law, while most abortions are barred from receiving Medicaid dollars, certain exceptions remain, such as instances of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger.
The ruling adds to a growing trend of victories for the pro‑life movement following the overturning of Roe v. Wade three years ago. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro‑Life America, asserted that the “truth is exposed” about Planned Parenthood, referring to alleged botched procedures and the death of a patient following a late‑term abortion. “Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer‑funded gravy train is swiftly coming to an end,” she said.
On the other side of the debate, Democrats expressed deep concern. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the ruling, claiming it was the result of a court shaped by “MAGA” appointees and warning about its long‑term impacts. In a statement posted to social media, he asserted that the decision undermines women’s health care across America.
