The Supreme Court is set to hear a case Wednesday on South Carolina's move to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, arguing that any funds going to the organization indirectly pay for abortion care." is about whether or not states will be forced to fund an activist organization like Planned Parenthood that performs hundreds of thousands of abortions every year," Senior Counsel Chris Schandevel from the Alliance Defending Freedom said. "States should be free to choose how to best steward their limited resources, to best provide for and care for the citizens who live in their states."But Planned Parenthood says blocking the funds violates patients' rights, arguing that those on Medicaid have the right to choose their health care provider. The organization adds that removing its clinics from the providers list violates the law, forcing hundreds of current patients to seek care elsewhere.The federal Hyde Amendment already prevents money from going to abortions in most cases. Under the law, Medicaid funds can only be used to pay for abortions in cases where a pregnant person's life is at risk or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. In South Carolina specifically, Planned Parenthood receives less than $100,000 for its two clinics, which are used for non-abortion care."There are too few Medicaid providers in South Carolina. We have got a real shortage of them," Vicki Ringer from Planned Parenthood's South Atlantic branch said. "It's a real insult to the patients that come to us for health care. They don't come to make a political statement."Planned Parenthood says abortions account for less than 5% of its care nationwide. The vast majority of services go to routine health screenings, family planning, and other reproductive care.Anti-abortion groups are also lobbying in Washington for President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and Congress to stop all Medicaid money that goes to Planned Parenthood. A 2015 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office estimated that about $13 million in federal taxpayer dollars go to Planned Parenthood each year.
WASHINGTON —
The Supreme Court is set to hear a case Wednesday on South Carolina's move to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, arguing that any funds going to the organization indirectly pay for abortion care.
"[This] is about whether or not states will be forced to fund an activist organization like Planned Parenthood that performs hundreds of thousands of abortions every year," Senior Counsel Chris Schandevel from the Alliance Defending Freedom said. "States should be free to choose how to best steward their limited resources, to best provide for and care for the citizens who live in their states."
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But Planned Parenthood says blocking the funds violates patients' rights, arguing that those on Medicaid have the right to choose their health care provider. The organization adds that removing its clinics from the providers list violates the law, forcing hundreds of current patients to seek care elsewhere.
The federal Hyde Amendment already prevents money from going to abortions in most cases. Under the law, Medicaid funds can only be used to pay for abortions in cases where a pregnant person's life is at risk or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
In South Carolina specifically, Planned Parenthood receives less than $100,000 for its two clinics, which are used for non-abortion care.
"There are too few Medicaid providers in South Carolina. We have got a real shortage of them," Vicki Ringer from Planned Parenthood's South Atlantic branch said. "It's a real insult to the patients that come to us for health care. They don't come to make a political statement."
Planned Parenthood says abortions account for less than 5% of its care nationwide. The vast majority of services go to routine health screenings, family planning, and other reproductive care.
Anti-abortion groups are also lobbying in Washington for President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and Congress to stop all Medicaid money that goes to Planned Parenthood.
A 2015 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office estimated that about $13 million in federal taxpayer dollars go to Planned Parenthood each year.
