Originally published at National Catholic Register
The bulk of the legal arguments focus on one line in federal law that regulates the way in which state governments must structure their Medicaid reimbursement policies.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments for a lawsuit that will determine whether South Carolina and other states can deny Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood for non-abortive medical services.
All three justices appointed by Democrats appeared to empathize with Planned Parenthood in the case, but the six Republican-appointed justices were more nuanced with their questions for the lawyers representing both parties.
Federal Medicaid funds cannot be used to cover elective abortions, but federal law does not restrict abortion businesses, such as Planned Parenthood facilities, from receiving Medicaid funds for other services they offer.
However, in 2016, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed an executive order to block abortion facilities from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for any services, arguing that tax money should not support institutions that perform abortions. This spurred a lawsuit from Planned Parenthood and a patient named Julie Edwards who was receiving non-abortive services at a Planned Parenthood facility through Medicaid.
The bulk of the legal arguments focus on one line in federal law that regulates the way
