The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) has joined a coalition of South Carolina healthcare experts, advocates, and providers to file an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to support the right of Medicaid patients to get healthcare from any qualified provider they choose – arguing that excluding certain providers because of politics harms people in South Carolina who need important care.
South Carolina is trying to remove Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSAT) from its Medicaid program. PPSAT provides essential services, like cancer screenings, prenatal care, family planning, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). WREN and its partners believe that the state's decision goes against federal Medicaid law, which says patients can choose any qualified healthcare provider.
“For many people in South Carolina, Medicaid is the only way to get good healthcare,” said Dr. Amalia Luxardo, CEO of WREN. “By letting politics decide which providers people can see, the state is putting the health of our most vulnerable residents at risk. This case is about making sure everyone can get care from a trusted provider.”
South Carolina already has a shortage of healthcare providers, especially in rural areas, and Medicaid patients often have a hard time finding care that is both available and affordable. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the state, it could set a bad example for other states, letting them exclude providers for political reasons instead of medical qualifications, which could make healthcare inequalities worse.
“The Supreme Court must protect the rights of Medicaid patients to get care from providers they trust,” said Sue Berkowitz, Founder/Director of Policy at the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center. “Taking away access to PPSAT won’t make healthcare better in South Carolina—it will just put more people in danger.”
The brief also talks about the negative impact of limiting provider choices for Medicaid patients and asks the Court to agree with the Fourth Circuit’s ruling, which protected Medicaid recipients’ rights in South Carolina.
WREN is committed to fighting for policies that ensure everyone in South Carolina can access fair and equal healthcare. To learn more about WREN and how to get involved, visit www.scwren.org. To read the full amicus brief, click here.
