In a 6–3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that individuals on Medicaid cannot sue states that block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds, even for non-abortion services like birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing.

Supreme Court Rules States Can Block Medicaid Funds to Planned Parenthood

The case stemmed from a 2018 move by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to cut off Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood. Lower courts had sided with patients and providers, but the high court reversed course, saying Medicaid law doesn’t give patients the right to challenge such decisions in federal court.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, said,

“Enforcement of Medicaid provider rules should come from federal oversight, not private lawsuits.”

Justices Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor disagreed, warning the decision could harm patients who rely on Planned Parenthood for essential care.

This ruling gives states the power to exclude providers from their Medicaid programs and could lead to similar moves in other conservative-led states. Over 1 million Medicaid users in South Carolina alone may be impacted.

Planned Parenthood says it will continue to fight for patients’ rights to choose their provider and access care without political interference.