Friend,

Here we are in week four of the Coronavirus pandemic. For NIRH, we've been mastering the art of the Zoom video-conference, figuring out how to homeschool our children, and, of course, thinking about the members of our community who have gotten sick with the virus. In ways large and small, we're learning the meaning of "resilience."

In the current sea of mostly scary news, this week we want to focus on some points of light. As anti-abortion activists and politicians continue to exploit this crisis to advance their political agenda, it's easy to overlook the fact that the majority of elected officials are acting responsibly by prioritizing health care -- including abortion access and other types of reproductive health care.

STATES RISING TO THE OCCASION

Governors recognizing abortion care as essential: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and Oregon Gov. Jay Inslee all declared that abortion and other family planning services should be considered essential in their announcements and proclamations about COVID-related closures. And many others were sure to define essential services in ways that ensured continued access to this time sensitive care.
Prioritizing birth experiences: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order last week requiring hospitals to allow those giving birth to have someone accompany them through labor and delivery. This order followed some hospitals' decision to bar all birth partners due to concerns about COVID-19 infections.
Tracking disparities in COVID-19 infection: Preventing injustice requires acknowledging inequities in access to health care. Our partners at Health Equity Solutions in Connecticut asked Gov. Ned Lamont to release race and ethnicity data related to COVID-19 testing, cases, and related deaths -- and his administration responded by including this information in its daily reporting! Congratulations to the Health Equity Solutions team.
TELEHEALTH FOR MEDICATION ABORTION

Providing resources for our partners: Social distancing and the closure of abortion clinics in some states has increased the need for telehealth for abortion care, enabling patients to consult with health care providers remotely and in some cases receive trusted medication through the mail or at a facility closer to them. NIRH convened a video call for nearly a hundred members of the reproductive health, rights, and justice community to connect with telehealth experts and learn more about the options for using this proven medical delivery method for abortion access.
Exploring telehealth for abortion access: Our friends at the TelAbortion project are conducting a study through which patients living in 13 states may be able to receive medication abortion care remotely. Read a profile of the TelAbortion study in the New Yorker.
Improving access to medication abortion: The EMAA Project seeks to improve the way the medications prescribed for medication abortion care are dispensed in the United States, to make the process consistent with the medical and scientific evidence and to meet women's needs. Find out all you need to know about the FDA regulation of medication abortion and other resources at emaaproject.org.
WHAT YOU CAN DO

Share resources on how to access abortion care: People across the country right now are in need of abortion care. Share information about how to find a provider through INeedAnA.org and about how to access telehealth for abortion care through TelAbortion.org.
Netflix and not-exactly-chill: Back before we entered this new reality, NIRH sponsored a film festival screening of "Never Rarely Sometimes Always," which chronicles a young woman's journey to access abortion care. Now, this terrific film is available on demand -- we hope you take a break and watch.
With so much to worry about today, we want to extend our deep thanks to you for remaining committed to advancing reproductive freedom and being a part of our community.

Keep hanging in there, and take care of yourself.

All my best,

Andrea Miller
President
NIRH

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