Several key conservatives on the Supreme Court left open the possibility on Wednesday that they could side with Planned Parenthood in a dispute with South Carolina over its decision to yank that organization’s Medicaid funding because it provides abortions.

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.

South Carolina was sued after it disqualified Planned Parenthood South Atlantic from getting Medicaid funding even for health services unrelated to abortion.

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

The US Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday over a move by the state of South Carolina to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood because the reproductive health organization provides abortions.

Justices heard arguments in a closely watched case that could determine whether Medicaid patients have the right to sue if a state disqualifies a provider.

The Supreme Court is weighing South Carolina’s effort to defund Planned Parenthood. NBC News senior Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley and University of California, Davis law professor Mary Ziegler join Chris Jansing to explain more about the case.

Protesters gathered outside of Planned Parenthood clinics across the country today to advocate for an end to federal funding of the organization but attendance in Michigan was lackluster. (April 2, 20

The Supreme Court heard arguments on whether South Carolina can remove Planned Parenthood clinics from its state Medicaid program, even though those funds cannot generally be used to fund abortions.