The Supreme Court rejected a key case in family planning: NPR

Planned Parenthood opened its new headquarters in Washington, DC in September. The Supreme Court refused to take over a key case that represents a big victory for Planned Parenthood.

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Planned Parenthood opened its new headquarters in Washington, DC in September. The Supreme Court refused to take up a key case that represents a great victory for Planned Parenthood.

The Washington Post / The Washington Post / Getty Images

The United States Supreme Court refused to take a case that would have far-reaching consequences on women's health care, family planning and the ability for states to prevent users from getting sick. Use Medicaid for health services provided by Planned Parenthood. can use Medicaid money for family planning services related to pregnancy. Now, this is not for abortion-related services . Federal law prohibits people from using Medicaid money for abortion.

But as the court does not rule on this case, states can not prohibit people from using Medicaid funds for other family planning services, such as screenings, ultrasound scans and advice.

The genesis of this case goes back to the discredited videos claiming to show Planned Parenthood executives who are trying to sell fetal pieces wrongly. After the videos, Louisiana and Kansas decided to prevent people from using Medicaid funds for family planning services. Planned Parenthood was sued and the lower courts ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood.

Louisiana and Kansas appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court, by not seizing the case, leaves the decisions of the lower court in place.

Three conservative judges dissent – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch disagreed. Notably, the other two Conservatives of the court – Chief Justice John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh – have not expressed dissent.

The court at the head of Roberts, this term in particular, tried to go unnoticed, which is another example.