This Wednesday, April 2, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in one of the most important cases of the term.
Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic poses this pivotal question: Should states have the freedom to direct Medicaid funding away from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood?
South Carolina law prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions. And funneling taxpayer dollars to abortion facilities, for any purpose, indirectly funds abortion. Because of this, South Carolina deemed abortion facilities, including Planned Parenthood, unqualified to receive Medicaid funding.
“South Carolina has made it clear that we value the right to life. Therefore, taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize abortion providers who are in direct opposition to their beliefs.”
— South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster,
February 10, 2025 Statement
Throughout a nearly seven-year court battle, appellate judges have repeatedly ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. The Supreme Court rejected South Carolina’s requests to consider the case — until now.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services in the case.
Prayers Needed
A volunteer clinic escort holds a sign outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 28, 2025.
(Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette)
The Supreme Court ruling in Medina will have broad sweeping ramifications for state rights to refuse the dedication of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The case serves as a vitally important reminder of the need for prayer for the culture and the ever-evolving intersection of the law and pro-life convictions.
Please join us in praying for the ADF attorneys to articulate clear and persuasive presentations on behalf of South Carolina in their arguments before SCOTUS.
WATCH SCOTUS ORAL ARGUMENTS
View oral arguments live on Facebook and YouTube this Wednesday, April 2, at 9 AM CT, as ADF attorneys stand before the U.S. Supreme Court in Medina v. Planned Parenthood.
More Information on Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
The journey to the Supreme Court has been a long one. Initially, South Carolina concluded that Planned Parenthood was not qualified to receive Medicaid funding. However, federal courts have repeatedly ruled against the state, forcing it to restore funding to the organization. ADF’s argument has emphasized that Congress never intended for Medicaid grant recipients to be able to challenge state’s decisions on how funding is allocated.
Planned Parenthood claims that disqualifying them from the state’s Medicaid program means that they cannot provide vital women’s health care for their clients. In reality, Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion services have dropped as much as 71% since 2010.
Taxpayer dollars intended for medical assistance “should never be used to fund facilities that make a profit off abortion,” says ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch. “Planned Parenthood portrays itself as a healthcare provider, but it is an organization dedicated to abortion and controversial gender transition treatments, not comprehensive healthcare.”
Bursch also notes that South Carolina has 200 publicly-funded healthcare clinics that provide most medical services while the state only has two Planned Parenthood facilities.
(Sources: Live Action and Alliance Defending Freedom HERE, HERE and HERE.)
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