Supreme Court Clears Way For States To Kick Planned Parenthood Out Of Medicaid

The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for states to exclude Planned Parenthood from their Medicaid programs.

In a 6-3 decision divided along ideological lines, the court’s majority concluded that federal law doesn’t allow Medicaid patients to bring lawsuits alleging that their state has abridged their right to visit their preferred medical provider under the health insurance program for low-income Americans.

The decision rejected a challenge to South Carolina’s expulsion of Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program. It will likely allow other conservative states to similarly expel reproductive and sexual health clinics from their Medicaid programs — shrinking the already narrow network of providers available to low-income patients.

“Defunding” Planned Parenthood is a goal of many conservatives, who object to its abortion services. Federal law has long banned federal money from being used for abortions. But Planned Parenthood clinics provide many other health care services that are typically eligible for payment under Medicaid.

Thursday’s ruling will make it easier for states to deprive Planned Parenthood — and other clinics that provide abortions — from receiving Medicaid payments for any of their other non-abortion-related care.

The court’s conservative majority ruled that while federal law guarantees Medicaid beneficiaries the right to see any “qualified and willing” provider, the statute doesn’t grant patients legal standing to sue if a state denies access to certain providers.