MassLive | Mass. abortion rights activists name priorities for 1st post-Roe legislative session

By Alison Kuznitz
Story Originally Appeared in MassLive

A day after demonstrators flooded the Boston Common to fight for abortion access on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade — which the Supreme Court overturned last June — Reproductive Equity Now unveiled its priorities for the new legislative session on Beacon Hill.

The advocacy organization on Monday outlined a handful of bills it will lobby for so far, though that list could grow pending more legislation that’s filed to uphold reproductive rights and bolster equitable access to care.

“Our 2023-2024 legislative agenda recognizes that Roe was never enough to guarantee access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, especially for Black, Brown, immigrant, LGTBQ+, and young people,” Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder said in a statement.

“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,” Holder continued. “Our work continues to stop crisis pregnancy centers’ 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.”

Reproductive Equity Now supports “An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care,” filed by Reps. Ruth Balser and Lindsay Sabadosa, as well as Sen. Cindy Friedman.

In response to expensive out-of-pocket medical bills, the legislation would require health insurance companies to cover all aspects of pregnancy care, such as abortion, prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care. Insurance companies would be prohibited from imposing any cost-sharing requirements under the legislation.

Another legislative priority is an “Act Relative to Birthing Justice in the Commonwealth,” filed by Sen. Liz Miranda.

Recognizing reproductive health care barriers that affect marginalized communities and people of color, the bill aims to improve maternal health outcomes and incorporate recommendations from the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health. The bill, if passed, could better spur the creation of free-standing birth centers and ensure midwifery care is more streamlined into existing health care services.

Similarly, an “Act Relative to Medicaid Coverage for Doula Services” would ensure more individuals — including those who are Black, Indigenous and people of color — are able to afford doula care. The bills are sponsored by Sabadosa and Miranda.

“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,” Reproductive Equity Now said in a news release.

Reproductive Equity Now will collaborate with the Common Start Coalition to support “Common Start” legislation, which seeks to provide affordable and high-quality early education and child care. The bills — filed by Reps. Ken Gordon and Adrian Madaro, plus Sens. Jason Lewis and Su Moran — are meant to tackle skyrocketing child care costs in Massachusetts, which Reproductive Equity Now warns can “harm both parents and children.”

Looking ahead to budget discussions, Reproductive Equity Now is also focused on securing funding to combat crisis pregnancy centers that masquerade as legitimate abortion care providers yet ultimately persuade people to not go through with the procedure. Former Gov. Charlie Baker had vetoed $1 million last session earmarked for a public awareness campaign about the centers.

“Ensuring that people know where they can access legitimate, unbiased abortion care — and where these fake abortion clinics are located — is critical to curtailing the impacts of crisis pregnancy centers’ deceptive practices,” Reproductive Equity Now said. “Now, with a new pro-choice governor in the corner office, we are urging the Massachusetts Legislature to again take the important step to invest $1 million in a public education campaign on crisis pregnancy centers’ deceptive practices in the FY2024 budget.”