{"id":94561,"date":"2023-01-23T10:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/?p=94561"},"modified":"2023-01-23T13:23:43","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T18:23:43","slug":"reproductive-equity-sets-legislative-agenda-to-expand-equitable-access-to-reproductive-health-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/23\/reproductive-equity-sets-legislative-agenda-to-expand-equitable-access-to-reproductive-health-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Reproductive Equity Sets Legislative Agenda To Expand Equitable Access to Reproductive Health Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The following is a press release from Reproductive Equity Now submitted to SOURCE media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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BOSTON – On the heels of the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade<\/em>\u2014and the first anniversary since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe<\/em> this summer\u2014Reproductive Equity Now is launching its priorities for the 2023-2024 Massachusetts Legislative session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur 2023-2024 legislative agenda recognizes that Roe<\/em> was never enough to guarantee access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, especially for Black, Brown, immigrant, LGTBQ+, and young people. This session, we are laser-focused on passing laws to improve maternal health outcomes, break down cost barriers to the full spectrum of pregnancy care, and ensure that families have the support to raise their children without breaking the bank on child care,\u201d said Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder. \u201cOur work continues to stop crisis pregnancy centers\u2019 disinformation campaigns and expand abortion access across our Commonwealth, while also viewing reproductive health care with a holistic lens and passing bold policy to realize true reproductive equity in our state. The Legislature has shown tremendous leadership in response to the health care, economic, and racial justice crisis created by the fall of Roe<\/em>, and we are eager to continue our partnership this session to ensure Massachusetts remains a leader in the fight for reproductive freedom for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Below are Reproductive Equity Now\u2019s priorities for the 2023-2024 session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care (HD.1582, SD.1132)<\/strong> Representatives Ruth Balser and Lindsay Sabadosa and Senator Cindy Friedman<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Last session, the Massachusetts Legislature took bold action to break down cost barriers to care by eliminating cost-sharing for abortion. However, high deductible plans are common so many people still face exorbitant out-of-pocket costs when trying to access the full spectrum of pregnancy care. Now, we must go further and enact legislation that would require health insurance plans to cover all pregnancy care\u2014including abortion, prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care\u2014without any kind of cost-sharing. Any financial barrier to reproductive health care limits people\u2019s ability to make personal decisions about their reproductive destiny. Pregnant people should be the ones to dictate their own reproductive health care\u2014not their deductibles or insurance plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Act Relative to Birthing Justice in the Commonwealth (SD.2401)<\/strong> Senator Liz Miranda<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
As over a dozen states have moved to ban or severely restrict abortion, we have seen the negative impact of abortion bans on the full spectrum<\/em> of reproductive health care, especially for already-marginalized communities. Massachusetts has made significant strides to protect and expand access to abortion, and there is more work to be done to break down barriers to the full spectrum of reproductive health care that still exist for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. This bill introduces a framework to improve maternal health outcomes and advance recommendations from the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health, including better integrating midwifery care into our maternal health care system to improve access to out-of-hospital birthing options and reducing financial and administrative barriers to the creation of free-standing birth centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
An Act Relative to Medicaid Coverage for Doula Services (HD.2452, SD.1638)<\/strong> Representative Lindsay Sabadosa and Senator Liz Miranda<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This legislation would mandate MassHealth coverage of doula care. Doulas are trained professionals who provide physical, emotional, and educational support to birthing people not only during labor and delivery, but also before and after pregnancy. By empowering pregnant people to be their own advocate, doulas can help improve birthing experiences, breastfeeding, and maternal health outcomes. However, the cost of doula care without insurance coverage can put this critical care out of reach for low-income pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people, many of whom are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. This bill is an essential tool for the Commonwealth to reduce insurance barriers to care, help combat the maternal health crisis, and address racial inequities for birthing people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common Start (HD.2794, SD.667)<\/strong> Representatives Ken Gordon and Adrian Madaro and Senators Jason Lewis and Su Moran<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Reproductive Equity Now is proud to work with the Common Start Coalition to establish a five-year pathway to a universal system of affordable, high-quality early education and child care for all Massachusetts families, starting at birth. Reproductive equity is not only the ability to decide if and when to have a family\u2014it\u2019s also about ensuring that when you decide to become a parent, you can raise a family in a safe and healthy environment without breaking the bank on child care. Massachusetts has the second highest child care costs in the country. These exorbitant early childhood care costs harm both parents and children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Funding for Public Education Campaign on Dangers of Crisis Pregnancy Centers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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