Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in the case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood. The issue is whether the Medicaid Act’s free-choice-of-provider provision gives beneficiaries a private right to choose their provider.
Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina signed an executive order in 2018 blocking state Medicaid funds to abortion mill Planned Parenthood. A Medicaid recipient named Julie Edwards and Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic sued the state over blocked funds.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that the free-choice-provider provision does bestow a private right to choose the abortion mill as a provider.
Pro-lifers in South Carolina and all over the country do not want any of their money going toward killing unborn babies.
Liberty Counsel (LC) submitted an amicus brief in the case. From LC (emphasis added):
Currently, the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals are divided 5-2 with the majority in favor of funding Planned Parenthood by interpreting the Medicaid Act provides a right to choose a specific qualified provider. However, the Fifth and Eighth Circuits found that the Medicaid Act does not confer a federal right to choose just any provider nor does it confer the right to sue states that exclude Planned Parenthood as not qualified for the Medicaid program.
LC said that states have the authority to disqualify providers that engage in unethical and illegal practices.
“States should be permitted to defund abortion,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of LC. “It makes no sense to require states to fund an organization that kills children. Congress did not create a right for individuals to have states pay for their abortions.”
President Donald Trump said his administration will block federal family planning funds from Planned Parenthood.
It’s astounding that any body of lawmakers, state or federal, would even consider using tax dollars to kill unborn babies, regardless of one’s opinion about it. Killing the unborn is not a medical procedure, and some doctors consider mother and baby to be two patients.
Photo credit: By Fibonacci Blue – Flickr: Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, CC BY 2.0, Link
Are you pro-life? Sign up for our daily newsletter to stay informed!
