Abortion Access 2 Years Post-Dobbs

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Abortion Access Two Years On

Although Roe v. Wade was never enough to protect abortion rights for far too many people, its repeal was a historic loss for our country. By eliminating Roe’s protections, the Supreme Court rolled back decades of reproductive rights and jeopardized the reproductive health of generations to come. Please read about how traffic to Power to Decide’s AbortionFinder has changed since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. Ms. Magazine also published an op-ed by Power to Decide CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley on her feelings about the anniversary as a practicing OB-GYN.

US Supreme Court Rules on Medication Abortion and Emergency Abortion

Last month, the Supreme Court issued decisions in two cases concerning abortion. In an 8-1 decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM), a case that could have severely restricted access to mifepristone, one part of the two-drug medication abortion regimen, the Court ruled that the AHM did not have standing in this case, meaning that additional restrictions and barriers would not be placed on mifepristone right now. However, other challenges to medication abortion access are expected. Please see Power to Decide’s statement for more.

Then, in a 6-3 decision in the consolidated cases Moyle v. United States challenging the right to emergency abortion services in Idaho, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower courts. The decision allows emergency abortion care to resume in Idaho for the time being, despite the state’s abortion ban in place. However, the Court did not rule on whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) preempts state abortion bans. For nearly 40 years, EMTALA has protected pregnant patients from being turned away at hospitals in emergency situations. See Power to Decide’s statement for more on this decision and its implications.

Meet Our Newest Power Player

We’re committed to uplifting the many individuals championing reproductive well-being. Our newest Power Player is Megan Kavanaugh, DrPH, Principal Research Scientist, Guttmacher Institute. Read her story.

A Bundle of Health Care

Power to Decide’s One Key Question^® (OKQ) interactive training opens the door to a conversation with patients about if, when, and under what circumstances they want to get pregnant and have a child. Our Preconception and Contraception Pathways to Care online training takes that conversation one step further by teaching providers how to offer preconception and contraception counseling and care in a personalized, non-judgmental, and unbiased way.

Both OKQ and Pathways to Care are available as a stand-alone training. A discounted training bundle is available for those interested in taking the OKQ and Pathways training together. Simply visit our online shop to begin your training.

A Resource for Navigators of Abortion Seekers

How does our Navigate platform help those in abortion care community who help abortion seekers? Check out our new blog on Navigate to learn about this innovative website.

‘Unexpected’ Returns

For the sixth consecutive season, Power to Decide is proud to collaborate with TLC’s ‘Unexpected’ to bring resources to viewers to help jumpstart important discussions between young people and their parents and the champions who care about them. Our resources will help viewers get informed and think about how they might handle similar situations in their own lives.

Season 6 follows three familiar faces and seven new ones, documenting their journeys with pregnancy and parenthood. Read our blog to learn more about what to expect from each of their stories as the season unfolds.

Federal Update

Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley Speaks about Reproductive Health Care at the White House

To commemorate the 59th anniversary of the Griswold v. Connecticut—the 1965 US Supreme Court decision recognizing the constitutional right to privacy and for married couples to use birth control—Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, appeared at two events in early June hosted by the Biden-Harris administration. On June 3, Dr. McDonald-Mosley joined 12 other leaders at a roundtable hosted by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra. The roundtable focused on the state of reproductive health care access and how to address the current crisis. To learn more, please see the readout of the roundtable.

On June 7, Dr. McDonald-Mosley spoke at a convening at the White House on contraceptive access and the work needed to protect and expand access in light of recent threats. To learn more about the discussion, please see the readout of the convening.

US Senate Holds Vote on the Right to Contraception Act

On June 5 the U.S. Senate held a vote on the Right to Contraception Act, a bill that affirms that providers have a right to provide and people a right to receive contraception. Despite the myriad reasons why the bill is needed in a landscape where reproductive well-being is under https://powertodecide.org/about-usnewsroom/power-decide-urges-congress-pass-right-contraception-actattack, the Senate voted 51-39 to advance the bill, not enough to surmount the filibuster and pass the bill. Meanwhile, in the House, reproductive health champions launched a discharge petition, an effort to force vote on the bill in that chamber. For more on the Right to Contraception Act and the need for it, please see our statement.

Congressional Appropriations and Defense Authorizations Continue

Congress continues its work on the FY 2025 appropriations process. In mid-June, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a vote of 217-199. While the House version of the NDAA contained an important reproductive well-being provision to expand no co-pay contraceptive coverage, it also included harmful policy riders regarding gender affirming care, access to reproductive health care, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in defense programs.

The House also released its FY25 Labor Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill, that proposes the elimination of key programs including the Title X Family Planning Program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program, as well as many other harmful restrictions on reproductive health care. As Congress continues to move forward with appropriations process, we encourage policymakers to work to increase funding for these critical sexual and reproductive health care programs and pass funding bills free from harmful policy riders. We urge you to contact your members of Congress and tell them to invest in reproductive well-being.

State Update

Arizona’s 1864 Abortion Ban Will Not Go into Effect; Abortion Remains Legal Through 15 Weeks

The Arizona legislature voted to sine die—or adjourn the legislative session on June 15. In May, the legislature passed, and Governor Hobbs signed HB 2677, repealing the state’s total abortion ban. This came after the Arizona Supreme Court issued a decision in April to uphold the law passed in 1864 when Arizona was still a territory. The effective date of the ban repeal is September 14, 90 days after the end of the session. Abortion care remains legal through 15 weeks. Visit AbortionFinder.org for up-to-date information on local, verified abortion care providers and support services.

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Join our mission to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all by becoming a monthly recurring donor. A monthly donation is an investment in a world where all individuals have the power to decide their futures.

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