In opposing the case, the state of South Carolina has argued that Edwards didn’t have a right to sue in federal court. The lower courts sided with Edwards and Planned Parenthood—as have most federal circuit courts that have considered similar cases. So South Carolina appealed, all the way up to the Supreme Court.

The court will decide whether Medicaid beneficiaries may sue to receive services under a law that lets them choose any qualified provider.

If the Supreme Court sides with South Carolina, many GOP-led states are expected to likewise block Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid.

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared sympathetic on Wednesday to South Carolina's bid to strip Planned Parenthood of funding under the Medicaid program in a case that could bolster efforts by Republican-led states to deprive the reproductive healthcare and abortion provider of public money.

Amy Coney Barrett, Conservative Supreme Court justice, appears to want Planned Parenthood to remain an option on Medicaid.

Supporters of Planned Parenthood argue the state violated the Medicare and Medicaid Act of 1965, which states beneficiaries “may obtain” medical treatment from any qualified provider.

In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the court is considering whether Medicaid recipients in South Carolina have a legal right to challenge a state order prohibiting Medicaid funds from going to abortion providers.

The battle over taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood takes center stage at the Supreme Court in a South Carolina dispute over Medicaid providers.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set on Wednesday to consider South Carolina's bid to strip Planned Parenthood of funding under the Medicaid program in a case that could bolster efforts by Republican-led states to deprive the reproductive healthcare and abortion provider of public money.