The initiative known as Defund Planned Parenthood aims to cut federal Medicaid funding for the organization, which provides essential reproductive health care services beyond just abortions.

At the heart of the debate is whether the Medicaid Act permits beneficiaries to choose specific providers, with federal guidelines allowing states to oversee qualified clinics.

Lower courts have previously ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood, allowing its clinics in Columbia and Charleston to continue accepting Medicaid patients, but the Supreme Court's decision could have broader implications.

Governor McMaster argues that taxpayer funds should not support organizations that provide abortions, asserting that South Carolinians do not want their tax dollars used for that purpose.

The Supreme Court's upcoming case could lead to similar funding cuts in conservative states, with nearly 100 conservative Congress members supporting South Carolina's stance through an amicus brief.

Major anti-abortion groups are actively lobbying in Washington, D.C., to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood ahead of a pivotal Supreme Court hearing in April 2025 regarding its funding in South Carolina.

Experts warn that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of South Carolina, it could empower states to exclude politically unpopular healthcare services, potentially worsening maternal and infant mortality rates.

Vicki Ringer, the South Carolina director of Planned Parenthood, contends that claims of Medicaid funding being used for abortions are misleading and emphasizes the need to expand healthcare access.

This issue reflects a broader national divide, as conflicting decisions from federal appeals courts highlight the need for a clear Supreme Court ruling.

A 2015 Congressional Budget Office estimate suggested that stripping Planned Parenthood funding could cost the government $130 million over a decade due to loss of preventive health care services.

Planned Parenthood faces criticism for its focus on abortion services and its history of malpractice, which is not covered by Medicaid.

Overall, efforts to defund Planned Parenthood could negatively impact maternal and infant health and access to vital preventive care for low-income individuals.