Fourth Circuit Again Affirms South Carolinians Using Medicaid Can Choose Planned Parenthood as their Health Care Provider
PlannedparenthoodMar 05
South Carolina Can't Remove Planned Parenthood From Medicaid, Court Rules
The Facts
A federal appeals court has ruled that South Carolina residents can sue the state for removing Planned Parenthood from their Medicaid network, stating that such restrictions infringe on Medicaid patients’ right to choose their health provider.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Planned Parenthood and plaintiff Julie Edwards, a Medicaid recipient who sued South Carolina for threatening to exclude Planned Parenthood from its payroll. The decision came unanimously from a three-judge panel.
The Spin
Left narrative
Once again, a federal appeals court has affirmed the right of patients to choose the healthcare provider of their choice, fighting back against legislation aimed at targeting Medicaid patients’ rights. Planned Parenthood provides many vital healthcare services to people across South Carolina and the entire US, yet anti-choice governments seek to destroy Planned Parenthood for offering reproductive healthcare. Tuesday’s decision was a major victory for bodily autonomy and personal choice in South Carolina.
Right narrative
Democratically elected officials not only have the right to defund organizations like Planned Parenthood, but they also have a sworn duty to honor the will of their voters who don’t want their tax dollars funding abortions. Planned Parenthood has violated countless laws in various states, and has gone out of its way to encourage vulnerable young women to kill their children in the womb. States like South Carolina and Missouri are listening to their citizens by blocking state funds from reaching the hands of Planned Parenthood and its associates. This is common sense, and a federal court cannot overrule the will of the people.
Nerd narrative
There is a 4% chance that there will be a national ban on elective abortions in the US before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.