Supreme Court Politicizes Health Care with Anti-Planned Parenthood Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 26, 2025 – Today the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, ruling that there is no individual right to sue under Medicaid — in this case, not allowing Planned Parenthood to sue South Carolina for blocking it from serving Medicaid patients because it also (separately) provides abortion care.

Not only will this ruling devastate the ability of people with low incomes to access the reproductive care they deserve, but it also invites lawmakers to further politicize access to health care. In this case, South Carolina wanted to punish Planned Parenthood for providing abortion care, but nothing in this ruling prevents similar policies targeting providers that offer gender-affirming care, in vitro therapy, or even vaccines. What kind of care an individual needs should be a discussion and decision made between that individual and the doctors they choose, not the doctors that politicians think work for the right health care provider.

As Justice Jackson writes in her dissent, this decision further weakens civil rights across the board. The power of our civil rights laws lies in our ability to challenge violations of these laws. What other cases might arise where a law or policy clearly harms a group of people, but the Court decides they simply don’t have a right to challenge it? Today’s approach undermines the bedrock principle of our civil rights laws that there must be a check against abuses of power. This Court’s conservative majority appears ready to erase that check if it suits them politically.

Alliance for Justice President Rachel Rossi issued the following statement:

“Today’s ruling demonstrates that the conservative majority on this Supreme Court is willing to take a scorched-earth approach to fulfill its anti-abortion agenda. They are so willing to punish Planned Parenthood and the people who seek its care that they would undermine civil rights protections and health care access for all of us. Make no mistake, the Court is handing more power to the executive and to itself by selling out the right of the people to seek their own justice. Everyone deserves access to affordable reproductive health care of their choice, and everyone deserves the right to sue when denied that. This decision erodes access to justice and as Justice Jackson noted, will likely ‘result in tangible harm to real people.’”