Four Years Post-Dobbs: Because of Shield Law Protections, More Abortions Are Being Provided Than Ever Before
As attacks on abortion access evolve, Reproductive Equity Now remains committed to protecting patients, supporting providers, and expanding access to care.
BOSTON, MA (June 23, 2026) – Reproductive Equity Now released a statement ahead of tomorrow’s fourth anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision.
“Four years after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, attempts to roll back abortion access have not stopped patients from seeking abortion, providers from offering compassionate care, or advocates from finding creative ways to protect reproductive freedom. Massachusetts’ shield law protections have safeguarded providers in the Commonwealth while ensuring that patients in banned or restricted states can continue to access essential healthcare. By meeting people where they are — without the costs of travel, missing work, or child care — with medication abortion, this innovative law has helped make care more equitable and accessible, allowing the number of abortions across the country to nearly double compared to pre-Dobbs,” said Taylor St. Germain and Claire Teylouni, Interim Executive Directors of Reproductive Equity Now.
“But we know that the attacks on reproductive health care are not stopping— they’re evolving. Anti-abortion politicians know that our shield laws work and have increasingly targeted medication abortion, using every tool and agency at their disposal to restrict access to mifepristone. The Trump administration is working overtime to restrict contraception access, gutting the Title X program and instead directing funds toward anti-abortion centers and organizations that promote a pro-natalist agenda. And too many people are still being left behind when it comes to accessing equitable reproductive health care services.
“But we have met these challenges before, and we know we will again. Every time the anti-abortion movement attempts to take us backwards, we are working around the clock to push forward bolder than ever before. Four years after the Dobbs decision, we must recommit to the fight ahead to advance policies that expand access to care, protect bodily autonomy, and ensure that every person can access the health care they need, want, and deserve. ”
In July 2022, Massachusetts passed the Shield Law (An Act Expanding Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care), which took major steps to make abortion care more affordable and accessible and protect our reproductive and gender-affirming care providers. In July 2025, Massachusetts passed An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth, known as Shield 2.0, which made critical updates to the 2022 Shield Law, including enhancing provider privacy protections, enshrining protections for emergency abortion care into state law, and segmenting patient electronic medical records.
Four years after Dobbs, medication abortion provided through telehealth has transformed abortion access nationwide, contributing to a significant increase in care despite state abortion bans and restrictions. Under the state’s shield law, Massachusetts providers mailed more than 50,000 medication abortion pills to patients in banned or restricted states in 2025 alone.
Reproductive Equity Now is currently pushing to implement and update Shield laws in New Hampshire and Connecticut to further bolster protections.
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