What Next | How the Supreme Court Could Gut Planned Parenthood
Apr 2, 2025
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Ian Millhiser, a Senior correspondent at Vox specializing in legal issues, dives deep into the looming Supreme Court case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. He discusses how the political landscape influences judicial decisions, particularly regarding Medicaid funding for essential healthcare. Millhiser highlights the far-reaching implications this case could have on abortion rights and women's health in America. With Planned Parenthood's viability at stake, the conversation tackles the intersection of law, politics, and reproductive rights, all under the Supreme Court's scrutiny.
The Supreme Court case Medina v. Planned Parenthood will explore the rights of affected parties to contest state-level Medicaid funding cuts.
State attempts to defund Planned Parenthood highlight the manipulation of healthcare access for political motives, impacting vital reproductive services nationwide.
Deep dives
Governor McMaster's Executive Order and Its Legal Implications
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has attempted to block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding since 2018, despite federal regulations that allow Medicaid recipients to choose their healthcare providers. By issuing an executive order labeling Planned Parenthood's healthcare services as 'unqualified' due to their abortion services, the governor is attempting to redefine what qualifies a provider under federal law. This move has been repeatedly challenged in court, with the Fourth Circuit rejecting McMaster's assertions and affirming that Medicaid law unequivocally supports patients' rights to select their providers. The upcoming Supreme Court case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, is expected to explore whether the state’s actions can be legally contested by affected parties, rather than whether those actions themselves violate federal law.
The Role of Federal Oversight in Medicaid Funding
Although the federal government holds the authority to enforce Medicaid law and could cut off funding to non-compliant states, it rarely utilizes this power, often opting instead to allow states to self-regulate. Such inaction continues to harm patients who depend on Medicaid for critical healthcare services, like those provided by Planned Parenthood, by allowing states to manipulate funding based on political motives. In South Carolina, the state’s choice to defund Planned Parenthood is particularly alarming, as it jeopardizes access to vital reproductive health care, including contraception and wellness exams. This situation highlights the challenges of enforcing Medicaid laws and the broader implications of state-level decisions on the healthcare of individuals.
The Broader Impact on Reproductive Health Services
The ongoing legal disputes around Planned Parenthood's funding extend beyond mere access to abortion services, threatening the holistic reproductive healthcare that a significant portion of the Medicaid population relies upon. With nearly 80 million Americans on Medicaid, a loss of funding for Planned Parenthood would severely impact the organization’s ability to deliver essential services to women, ultimately reducing healthcare access and options across the state. The controversy has become a focal point in a national debate over reproductive rights, reflecting a fraught political landscape where states use legal avenues to undermine established healthcare rights. The Supreme Court's decision in this case could set a precedent for how healthcare providers are funded and how individuals are able to seek judicial recourse against state government actions.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, a case that will determine whether South Carolina can cut Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood.
But with clear legal precedent stating that they can’t, how did this case even end up before the Supreme Court? And, given how far the court has gone to accommodate the MAGA agenda, is the outcome of this case in doubt?
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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther.
