Reproductive Health Care Advocates Celebrate Historic $17.5 Million Investment in Abortion Clinics, Providers
Economic development package now heads to Gov. Baker’s desk for signature
BOSTON (November 3, 2022) – Reproductive Equity Now, ACLU of Massachusetts, and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts today celebrated the Massachusetts Legislature’s historic $17.5 million investment in reproductive health care providers and clinics as part of the economic development package.
“Budgets are a statement of our values. Today’s historic investment in reproductive health care makes it clear that, in Massachusetts, abortion is health care and we will invest our state dollars accordingly,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “Funding for clinic security, infrastructure, and provider training will be critical to meet the needs of an ever-changing abortion landscape post-Roe. Thank you to Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, and Chairs Michlewitz and Rodrigues for their continued commitment to reproductive equity. Together, we will ensure Massachusetts remains a place where patients can access safe, affordable, and compassionate reproductive health care care.”
“Since the fall of Roe, Massachusetts leaders have made clear that our state is a nationwide leader in ensuring meaningful access to abortion care,” said Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. “By supporting abortion providers and clinic infrastructure with this historic investment, Massachusetts lawmakers have once again risen to the occasion. We thank Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, and Chairs Michlewitz and Rodrigues for championing and proactively investing in reproductive freedom.”
“At a time when millions of people across the country are losing access to abortion care, investments in Massachusetts’ reproductive health care workforce and clinic infrastructure will boost our ability to provide patients with the care they deserve. We are grateful to House and Senate leadership for this historic investment in abortion access and for continuing to meet this moment with urgency and an unwavering commitment to reproductive freedom,” said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
The $17.5 million investment in reproductive health care will be used to:
Create grants for providers who offer the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care, contraception, miscarriage management, postpartum depression care, prenatal services, midwifery services, and more;
Cover clinics’ security and infrastructure costs, a critical investment in an ever-changing abortion landscape post-Roe;
Provide funding for hiring, training, and retention of clinic providers and employees;
Fund informational materials for clinics to educate patients on their reproductive health care options;
Provide $1 million for a public awareness campaign on the danger of crisis pregnancy centers.
In July, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a reproductive health care package that took significant steps to make abortion care more affordable and accessible, implement best-in-the-nation shield protections for abortion and gender-affirming care providers, and update statutory language to expand access to abortion care later in pregnancy.
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