WASHINGTON,D.C – Americans United for Life (AUL) has filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the right of states to determine how taxpayer funds are allocated under Medicaid, including the ability to exclude abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, centers on whether states have the authority to defund organizations that provide elective abortions and represents a critical moment for pro-life legal advocacy and the protection of life-affirming healthcare alternatives.
AUL’s brief focuses on a broader legal question of federalism and state sovereignty: whether a provision in the Medicaid Act—the “any-qualified-provider” rule—creates an implied private right of action under federal law. Historically, courts have rarely found that Spending Clause laws contain an implied private right of action to sue states. The brief argues that Medicaid law does not allow a beneficiary to legally demand a provider of elective abortions be included in the Medicaid program when the people, through their elected representatives, declare elective abortion to be against public policy. Instead, enforcement mechanisms are already in place through federal oversight and a state administrative appeals process, not private lawsuits to circumvent States’ pro-life policies. Allowing such lawsuits would create costly and inconsistent litigation outcomes for states and undermine their authority to regulate healthcare providers under Medicaid.
Furthermore, precedent set in O’Bannon v. Town Court Nursing Center (1980) confirms that the Medicaid statute does not grant individual patients a right to challenge provider qualifications in federal court. AUL’s argument highlights that multiple lower courts have wrongly interpreted the law by allowing private actions that contradict the text and context of the Medicaid Act. The Supreme Court now has an opportunity to correct these misinterpretations and reaffirm that states retain their authority to determine whether a provider is qualified under the Medicaid program.
John Mize, President & CEO of Americans United for Life:
“Americans United for Life has been at the forefront of every major pro-life case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and this case is no exception. For decades, we have fought to defend the dignity of every human life and the rights of states to ensure their healthcare policies reflect their values. The Court now has the opportunity to affirm that states have the authority to direct Medicaid funds in a way that respects life and prioritizes ethical healthcare providers. The Supreme Court’s decision in this case will have far-reaching implications for both the pro-life movement and the broader debate over states’ rights in healthcare funding.”
Carolyn McDonnell, Litigation Counsel at Americans United for Life:
“This case is fundamentally about whether individuals have a right to demand an abortion provider receive Medicaid dollars when abortion is against the public policy of the state. The law and Supreme Court precedent make clear that it does not. Congress has provided specific enforcement mechanisms for the Medicaid program, and private litigation is not one of them. Lower courts have misinterpreted this provision for too long, and we urge the Supreme Court to correct these errors and uphold the authority of states to determine which providers qualify for taxpayer funding.”
For more information or to arrange an interview with AUL, contact Alison Centofante at press@aul.org or 609-517-7235.
Since 1971, Americans United for Life (AUL) has advanced the human right to life in culture, law, and policy by equipping advocates and lawmakers with the facts and strategies that change hearts and minds and protect human life. The first national pro-life organization in the country, AUL is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
