5-4 Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
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Aug 26, 2025 The podcast dives into the complex case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood, spotlighting the debate over Medicaid recipients' rights to choose their providers. It critiques South Carolina's exclusion of Planned Parenthood and examines how federal laws contribute to the chaos surrounding healthcare access. The discussion explores the historical legacy of civil rights laws, highlighting struggles for marginalized communities. Political complacency in today's Supreme Court is likened to lackluster sports performances, emphasizing the need for a proactive vision for civil rights.
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Medicaid's Free Choice Protects Recipients
- The Medicaid Act conditions federal funding on states allowing recipients to pick any qualified provider.
- That free-choice rule prevents states from funneling recipients to state-preferred providers.
South Carolina Kicked Planned Parenthood Off Medicaid
- In 2018 South Carolina's governor ordered Planned Parenthood clinics off the state's Medicaid program.
- That decision forced clinics to stop serving Medicaid patients in the state.
Case Turned On Right To Sue, Not Qualification
- The central legal question was not whether Planned Parenthood qualified but whether a Medicaid recipient could sue under Section 1983.
- The Court said the Medicaid provision didn't unambiguously create an individual enforceable right.