The Supreme Court decided Wednesday to explore whether South Carolina can exclude Planned Parenthood from getting Medicaid funding. Planned Parenthood and a patient sued South Carolina in 2018 after the state barred abortion clinics from providing family planning services through Medicaid.

The Supreme Court decided Wednesday to explore whether South Carolina can exclude Planned Parenthood from getting Medicaid funding. Planned Parenthood and a patient sued South Carolina in 2018 after the state barred abortion clinics from providing family planning services through Medicaid.

In March, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a decision that blocked the state from withdrawing Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program. “Planned Parenthood could receive state Medicaid funding if it chooses to stop performing abortions,” according to South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services head Robert Kerr’s petition. “But it has not made that choice.”

According to patient Julie Edwards and Planned Parenthood, the state’s decision violates the Medicaid Act’s “free-choice-of-provider,” which “gives Medicaid recipients the right to choose to receive their medical care from any qualified and willing provider.”

In March, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a decision that blocked the state from withdrawing Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program. “Planned Parenthood could receive state Medicaid funding if it chooses to stop performing abortions,” according to South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services head Robert Kerr’s petition. “But it has not made that choice.”