Bill > H4691

This bill amends South Carolina law to prohibit abortion clinics and their affiliated providers from receiving Medicaid funds for family planning services. Specifically, the bill defines abortion clinics according to existing state law (Section 44-41-75) and declares such facilities and their associated medical practices as automatically unqualified to provide family planning services through the state's Medicaid program. The legislation builds upon previous executive actions by Governor Henry McMaster, including Executive Orders from 2017 and 2018 that sought to prevent abortion providers from receiving state healthcare funding. The bill references a hypothetical future U.S. Supreme Court decision (Medina v. Planned Parenthood) that allegedly affirms South Carolina's right to determine Medicaid provider qualifications. The new law would prevent the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from directing Medicaid funds to any organizations that provide abortion services, effectively excluding them from participating in the state's Medicaid family planning program. The bill would take effect immediately upon the Governor's approval.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4691&session=126&summary=B