Supreme Court to weigh Medicaid dollars going to abortion providers

The Supreme Court announced Wednesday it would take up a dispute over Medicaid funds going toward abortion purveyors.

The justices said they’ll examine whether a Medicaid beneficiary can choose any provider, including those like Planned Parenthood. 

The case, Kerr v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, involves a challenge to South Carolina’s move in 2018 to eliminate Medicaid dollars from being used at abortion clinics. 

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and a Medicaid client challenged the state’s decision to eliminate Planned Parenthood from access under the Medicaid Act. 

The lower court sided against South Carolina, prompting the high court appeal. At least four justices voted to hear the dispute. 

Alliance Defending Freedom is helping defend South Carolina’s Health and Human Services director in the legal battle. 

The Christian legal advocacy group says the case could affect pro-life states’ ability to direct Medicaid funds meant to go to low-income individuals away from abortion providers and facilities. 

“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund facilities that make a profit off abortion,” said John Bursch, senior counsel at ADF. “Pro-life states like South Carolina should be free to determine that Planned Parenthood and other entities that peddle abortion are not qualified to receive taxpayer funding through Medicaid. Congress did not unambiguously create a right for Medicaid recipients to drag states into federal court to challenge those decisions, so no such right exists.”