The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday regarding whether South Carolina residents have the right to choose Planned Parenthood as a provider through Medicaid. The case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, questions whether South Carolina can exclude abortion providers from its Medicaid program. John Bursch of the Alliance Defending Freedom argued that the Medicaid Act does not have rights-creating language for qualified providers. Justice Elena Kagan raised concerns about interpreting the law, pointing out that Congress wrote the statute a while ago and that modern interpretations should be used. Kyle Hawkins of the U.S. Department of Justice echoed Bursch’s argument that the Medicaid provision does not create a right to choose any provider. Nicole Saharsky of Planned Parenthood argued that South Carolina violated the law by denying patients the ability to choose their provider. In 2018, Governor Henry McMaster ordered the end of Medicaid agreements with abortion providers, leading to a lawsuit from Planned Parenthood. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision, citing the importance of preserving access to affordable healthcare. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in the case, focusing on whether the Medicaid Act confers a private right upon beneficiaries to choose a specific provider. The arguments centered on the language of the statute and its implications for patient choice and access to care.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
