Gov. Henry McMaster Orders SCDHHS to Continue Family Planning Program, Terminate Abortion Clinics from the Medicaid Program 

Columbia, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2018-21, which directs the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) to utilize carry-forward funds to continue the Family Planning program and to terminate abortion clinics as Medicaid providers.

Among the governor’s budget vetoes issued on July 5 was Veto No. 42, which nullified the Family Planning appropriation in DHHS’s budget because some of those funds are received by abortion clinics.

Governor McMaster’s new executive order addresses that veto: “Although the State should not contract with abortion clinics for family planning services, the State also should not deny South Carolinians access to necessary medical care and important women’s health and family planning services, which are provided by a variety of other non-governmental entities and governmental agencies.”