States Defunding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid

This is a critically important case that could have a dramatic impact on the ability of states to defund Planned Parenthood. This case arose after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive order directing the South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services to deem abortion clinics unqualified to receive Medicaid funding. Planned Parenthood and an individual plaintiff immediately sued in federal court, challenging the state’s decision. The district court issued a preliminary injunction against the Executive order and as we reported, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the ACLJ filed an amicus brief asking the Court to overturn the ruling below. The Supreme Court granted the case, vacated the judgment below (in light of another case recently decided), and remanded the case for reconsideration by the Fourth Circuit.