Reproductive Equity Now Stands in Solidarity with Planned Parenthood Following Medina Decision

Medina v Planned Parenthood Ruling Greenlights South Carolina to “Defund” Planned Parenthood, Strips Low-Income South Carolinians of Care, Sets Dangerous Precedent

BOSTON (June 26, 2025) – Reproductive Equity Now President, Rebecca Hart Holder, released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in the case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, holding that patients and providers do not have the right to challenge South Carolina’s decision to bar Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program, permitting states to refuse to cover care provided at Planned Parenthood clinics under state Medicaid programs. 

“This case is just the latest attack in the ‘Defund Planned Parenthood’ movement. At its core, this is a fundamental assault on the freedom of choice and autonomy for low-income Americans, and their right to receive the health care they want on their own terms,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “The fact that federal Medicaid dollars are already barred from covering abortion care is a grave injustice—yet anti-abortion extremists are escalating their efforts, proving once again that their agenda has never been just about abortion, but about exerting control. This case shows how far anti-abortion extremists are willing to go. They will sacrifice the rights of low-income patients to access the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care just to attack Planned Parenthood. They will eliminate access to birth control and pregnancy care just to punish abortion providers. They will welcome delays to urgent preventative care to treat sexually-transmitted infections and reproductive cancers. And they will, knowingly, impact the ability of people to make decisions about when and how to start their families.

“While this case directly impacts low-income South Carolinians, it also sets a dangerous precedent—opening the door for politicians to dictate not only where patients can access care, but who has the autonomy to access the care they need,” continued Hart Holder. “We refuse to be silent while this Trump-stacked Court tries to dictate who is worthy of care and who is not. Planned Parenthood remains a trusted, vital provider of a wide spectrum of preventive health care services, and we stand in full solidarity with them and the patients they serve. Together, we will keep fighting back until every person can access the health care they want and deserve.” 

Here are statements made by Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, and by our local Planned Parenthood partners: Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

This case has massive implications for the right of patients to choose their own providers when enrolled in Medicaid, and will significantly impact Planned Parenthood’s ability to serve low-income patients in South Carolina and ensure that participants in Medicaid have access to affordable, high-quality preventative care and sexual and reproductive health care. This follows after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected South Carolina’s attempts to terminate Planned Parenthood from the state Medicaid program. This is yet another attempt for anti-abortion extremists to “Defund Planned Parenthood”, curtail access to sexual and reproductive health care, with the Alliance Defending Freedom–the same group that overturned Roe v Wade– representing the state of South Carolina. 

Medicaid is the largest financier of publicly-funded family planning services and supplies, paying for 75% of all family planning services and 41% of all births– including contraception, STI services, and cancer screenings. Additionally, Planned Parenthood is a major provider for low-income people, with the majority of the 2 million patients served each year falling below 150% of the federal poverty line. 

Under the federal freedom of choice provision, 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(23), patients, not the state, have the right to choose their own health providers, so long as the provider is “qualified” and enrolled in the Medicaid program. 

Due to the Hyde Amendment, Medicaid is already prohibited from paying for abortion care in most circumstances. Despite this harmful ban, the Supreme Court greenlighted states to “defund” Planned Parenthood by denying patients a right to obtain care from Planned Parenthood. 

In May, when the United States House of Representatives voted to “defund” Planned Parenthood, Reproductive Equity Now released a statement in solidarity with Planned Parenthood. In April, when the Trump Administration announced its intent to freeze Title X funding for thirteen Planned Parenthood affiliates, Reproductive Equity Now released a statement in support of those affiliates, condemning the Trump Administration’s attack on reproductive freedom and reproductive health care providers. 

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