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NEWS FROM POWER TO DECIDE
Two Years Since Roe’s Overturn
January 22 marked 51 years since Roe v Wade affirmed a constitution right to abortion. Since it was overturned by the 2022 Dobbs decision, more than half of the states have restricted access to abortion. Fully 14 states have enacted compete bans. Read Power to Decide’s CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley’s statement on the anniversary and read about how abortion access differs post-Roe compared to pre-Roe America.
You can also listen to Dr. Raegan’s take on abortion rights in elections and why it’s about so much more than politics on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Introducing Beyond the Sheets
Beyond the Sheets, our newest project addressing campus sexual health, is a student-led initiative and will address the sexual and reproductive health needs of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Meet each of the student ambassadors, learn about them and the work they’ll be doing on their campuses in a new blog.
How AbortionFinder Verifies Providers
Power to Decide’s AbortionFinder is the largest verified database of abortion providers in the country. Our team verifies that each provider included in the AbortionFinder database provides abortion services. We also regularly check that the information we have about each of the providers in AbortionFinder — including contact information, hours, and what services they offer — is up to date and accurate. Wondering how we do it? Check out this blog to learn more.
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POLICY UPDATES
Federal Update
Biden-Harris Administration Issues New Guidance on Birth Control Coverage
The Biden-Harris administration announced new actions to improve access to reproductive health care. This includes new guidance for health insurance plans to address an ongoing lack of compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) contraceptive coverage requirement. The new guidance contains a set of FAQs that offer a new approach for plans to follow the requirements of the ACA. The administration urges health plans to cover all contraceptives without a therapeutic (generic) equivalent. It also reiterates that plans must also have a transparent and easy-to-use exceptions process for when a patient needs a specific contraceptive. For more about this please see our statement.
Federal Government Funded until March
In late January, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR), that funds the government until March, when there is a new deadline to pass appropriations bills. Congress has until March 1 to pass defense and related appropriations bills and March 8 to pass the remaining appropriations bills – including Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS), which funds critical programs such as the Title X Family Planning Program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP). Please continue to urge Congress to robustly fund these programs.
House of Representatives Passes Two Anti-Abortion Bills
The House of Representatives voted on and passed two anti-abortion bills: The Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant Women and Families Act. These bills aim to further restrict access to abortion, further shame and stigmatize abortion by limiting information and resources for pregnant students, and increase funding to crisis pregnancy centers (fake health clinics). Champions for abortion access in Congress united in their opposition, and the bills are not expected to be taken up in the Senate.
More States Expand Medicaid Postpartum Coverage
As of December 2023, 41 states have extended their Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months after the end of a pregnancy: an important step in improving maternal health outcomes. Nebraska began offering coverage at the beginning of the year and Texas will begin doing so on March 1, 2024. Five additional states are planning to implement this policy. Learn more details in our Medicaid Postpartum Coverage factsheet.
State Update
As of the end of January, legislative sessions have commenced in all but eight of the state legislatures that are scheduled to conduct regular sessions this year. At least 19 states have introduced bills that will further restrict abortion access, while 17 states have introduced bills to increase access.
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THE POWER OF SUPPORTING
This Valentine's Day, honor your loved one with a gift that goes beyond flowers and chocolates. Consider a donation that will contribute to advancing sexual and reproductive well-being for all.
Your generous gift supports our mission to ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health services, education, and resources for all. You will help fund initiatives such as AbortionFinder and Bedsider, as well as our policy work, which continues to become even more critical.
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