U.S. Supreme Court Takes South Carolina Case that Could Block Medicaid Patients from Accessing Care at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic

COLUMBIA, SC- The U.S. Supreme Court announced today it will review Kerr v. PPSAT, a case challenging Governor Henry McMaster's efforts to block people enrolled in the state Medicaid program from accessing health care at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.

Federal law prohibits states from interfering with Medicaid patients' access to the qualified family planning provider of their choice. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has affirmedthree times thatpeople who use Medicaid as their insurance have the right to visit any qualified family planning provider that accepts Medicaid, including those that provide abortion, like Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.

"Every person should be able to access quality, affordable health care from a provider they trust, no matter their income or insurance status," said Jenny Black, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. "This case is politics at its worst: anti-abortion politicians using their power to target Planned Parenthood and block people who use Medicaid as their primary form of insurance from getting essential health care like cancer screenings and birth control."

"Today, the Supreme Court made it clear that people's ability to choose their sexual and reproductive health care provider is in jeopardy," said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America."Patients who use Medicaid as their insurance should have the freedom to get high-quality, affordable health care - birth control, STI testing and treatment, and life-saving cancer screenings - at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. We'll see you at the Supreme Court."

In 2018, Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order that attempted to prevent people enrolled in the state Medicaid program from accessing preventive health care at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSAT) health centers in Columbia and Charleston. Julie Edwards, a PPSAT patient, sued in federal court. Since then, the U.S. District Court permanently blocked the executive order, allowing South Carolina patients enrolled in Medicaid to continue receiving care from PPSAT. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has affirmed the lower court's decisionthree times. The permanent injunction from the lower court remains in place, and PPSAT continues to be a South Carolina Medicaid provider while the case proceeds.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation's largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the nation's leading nonprofit sexual health provider, educator, and advocate. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSAT) provides high quality, nonjudgmental care and education, including annual exams, lifesaving cancer screenings-like Pap tests and clinical breast exams-STI testing and treatment, and abortion care in health centers located throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.