Missouri Supreme Court hears case over state efforts to defund Planned Parenthood

The Missouri legislature’s decision to allocate nothing in Medicaid reimbursements for services done by any facility or affiliate where abortions are performed, including Planned Parenthood, was argued before the Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The hearing comes three years after the same court ruled 6-1 that the state legislature must pay Planned Parenthood for treating Medicaid patients.

Now, the issue is again before the state’s highest court after the legislature put no funding in its 2022 supplemental budget in Medicaid reimbursements for organizations like Planned Parenthood.

The organization sued, and Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled in its favor.

In that decision, Beetem said the state couldn’t block the reimbursement funds to Planned Parenthood when they are available to other health care providers.

The state is appealing that decision on behalf of the Missouri Department of Social Services, saying Planned Parenthood did not exhaust administrative remedies before suing.

Joshua Divine, solicitor general for the attorney general’s office, argued before the court that upholding the decision in favor of Planned Parenthood would gut the legislature’s ability to craft the budget.