WASHINGTON (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) filed an amicus brief Monday (Feb. 10) in a Supreme Court case which will decide the fate of South Carolina’s effort to defund Planned Parenthood by barring abortion clinics in the state from participating in Medicaid programs.
The case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, will rule on whether or not the Medicaid Act’s “any-qualified-provider provision,” which allows beneficiaries the right to choose their provider, includes those that perform abortions.
Federal law currently prohibits Medicaid from funding abortions except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.
Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, spoke to the importance of the case in a post-Roe America.
“Following the Dobbs decision, states have a significant responsibility to promote a culture of life, as shown by the numerous pro-life laws taking effect across the nation,” Leatherwood said.
“These states must be able to enforce pro-life laws in totality, including by prohibiting government funds from being used to support abortion providers. Here, South Carolina is exercising its authority to determine who is and is not a qualified Medicaid healthcare provider to prevent taxpayer funds from going to America’s largest abortion provider: Planned Parenthood. As the ERLC urged the Supreme Court in our brief, South Carolina’s executive order must be upheld to allow pro-life states to comply with their own laws and for vulnerable preborn children to be protected.”
As the ERLC urged the Supreme Court in our brief, South Carolina’s executive order must be upheld to allow pro-life states to comply with their own laws and for vulnerable preborn children to be protected.”
Other states that have enacted laws blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding include Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and Texas.
The ERLC’s brief states that by receiving Medicaid funds to perform other services, taxpayers are essentially subsidizing Planned Parenthood’s main focus of performing abortions.
Read the full Baptist Press article here.
