06.26.2025 / Statement

Patient Choice and Rights Restricted in Supreme Court Decision Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic

Restricting Medicaid Patient Rights to Access to Trusted Health Providers Will Have Serious Consequences for the Health of Women, Mothers and Babies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, today issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic on whether patients can challenge state actions to limit free choice of Medicaid providers.

“Today, the Supreme Court decided to make it more difficult for Medicaid patients to see the doctor of their choice. The ruling strips them of the ability to challenge illegal restrictions that prevent them from choosing the medical provider that is best for them. The Court has now given the green light to states to impose even more harmful barriers to care. This ruling will make it more difficult for people to access the care that they need, allowing politicians and courts to insert themselves into personal health care decisions. Patients must retain the right to choose their health care provider when states overstep their bounds.

“Beyond threatening access to essential reproductive health care, including cancer screenings and STI testing, this ruling also escalates the long-standing political effort to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid — despite its vital role in delivering high-quality, respectful care to millions of people across the country.

“This decision comes as Congress considers legislation that would rip health care coverage away from 16 million Americans and ban federal Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood, causing health care costs to skyrocket for families already struggling to afford it. Women and their families should be free to make their own health care decisions without interference from Congress or the Supreme Court. All Americans should be alarmed at yet another push to insert politicians into our doctor’s offices and living rooms, further jeopardizing access to health care for millions of Americans who depend on Planned Parenthood for the health care that their family desperately needs.”