Reproductive Equity Now Urges Abortion Throughout Pregnancy - No Exceptions
Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act would remove arbitrary restrictions on access to abortion care later in pregnancy
WATCH: Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health Hosts Hearing on Access To Abortion Throughout Pregnancy
BOSTON (July 10, 2025) - This morning, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health will conduct a public hearing to hear testimony on H.2370/S.1563, the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, sponsored by Representatives Christine P. Barber and Lindsay Sabadosa and Senator Robyn K. Kennedy, a bill that would remove arbitrary restrictions on access to abortion throughout pregnancy.
“Three years ago, the Dobbs decision wreaked havoc on abortion access nationwide, drastically shrinking the care landscape and leaving patients across the country with fewer and fewer options for abortion care. In those first days, Massachusetts stepped up – leading the nation in protecting and expanding access to abortion care. With the mounting threats under the Trump Administration — Massachusetts has an opportunity and an obligation to do it again,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now. “Massachusetts must pass the Prioritizing Patients Access to Care Act to guarantee that no person in Massachusetts is denied abortion care or forced to travel out of state. The current exceptions framework is still failing patients in the Bay State, and we must do better for pregnant people in Massachusetts. It’s time to ensure that every Bay Stater can access abortion care throughout pregnancy — with no exceptions.”
“As the Trump Administration ramps up attacks on abortion access and reproductive care nationwide, it is crucial that the state of Massachusetts continues to address gaps in access to comprehensive care to ensure that pregnant people have the full autonomy to access the care they need, when and where they need it,” said Sen. Robyn Kennedy (D- 1st Worcester). “An Act prioritizing patient access to care will do just that by protecting patients from having to leave the commonwealth to seek the care they need, and empowering physicians to support their patients throughout their pregnancies.”
“Massachusetts has taken critically important steps to increase access to abortion care over the last few sessions, including allowing for exceptions to access care later in pregnancy due to serious medical issues,” said Rep. Christine Barber (D- 34th Middlesex). “While these changes have improved access to care for many pregnant patients who face devastating diagnoses later in their pregnancy, legal uncertainty surrounding the exceptions in our statute still poses a barrier. I continue to hear about patients who still need to travel out of state and pay out of pocket to get necessary care. This bill will ensure that abortion care, including later in pregnancy, is a decision made between a patient and doctor, not lawyers or politicians.”
“Our government should not stand in the way of a pregnant person getting the abortion care they need and want,” said Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (D- 1st Hampshire). “Massachusetts has made meaningful progress to expand abortion access, but confusing and arbitrary legal limits still push too many families to leave the state and spend thousands out of pocket to access abortion care. This bill would fix that — putting these decisions back where they belong: between a patient and their doctor, not the government.”
Today's hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM. Watch the livestream HERE. A copy of a one pager on the legislation can be found HERE.
Reproductive Equity Now is also proud to uplift support for this legislation from patients, providers, and advocates:
“After receiving a devastating fetal diagnosis in 2021, I was forced to travel to Maryland for compassionate and costly abortion care,” said Kate Dineen, a later abortion patient and Reproductive Equity Now C4 Board Member. “I was fortunate to have the resources to give my son peace, but not everyone does. Despite the meaningful progress made in 2022, patients here are still being forced to leave the state for essential health care. That’s why I’m advocating for the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act—so medical decisions stay between patients and their doctors, without government interference. As the Trump Administration threatens to criminalize travel and shutter all-trimester clinics, the stakes are now infinitely higher and Massachusetts has a moral obligation to lead.”
“This bill recognizes that every pregnant person's experience is unique and that the decision to continue or end a pregnancy should be one that is made between a patient and their doctor alone. No patient should be forced to travel hundreds of miles for care that is desperately wanted, in the best interest of their health, and that we have the skill to provide at hospitals here in Massachusetts,” said Dr. Luu Ireland, Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
“Across the country, our reproductive freedom is under siege. But Massachusetts has taken essential steps to protect reproductive rights and ensure access to health care in our state,” said Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. “This bill builds on Massachusetts’ deep commitment to reproductive freedom by removing barriers to abortion care at any stage in pregnancy, enabling doctors, patients, and families to make personal medical decisions without government interference.”
“The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine is pleased to support An act prioritizing patient access to care. As physicians with expertise in high-risk pregnancies, we are trained to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care for our patients who are facing complicated pregnancies. By eliminating restrictions on abortion care later in pregnancy, this legislation would allow healthcare providers to make evidence-based clinical decisions in consultation with their patients and ensure patients have access to high-quality, equitable reproductive healthcare,” said Sindhu K. Srinivas, MD, MSCE, President of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act (PPAC) is one of the top priorities that Reproductive Equity Now announced for the 2025-26 Massachusetts legislative session.
Current Landscape
Massachusetts statute governing abortion care later in pregnancy currently prohibits care after 24 weeks of pregnancy unless the care meets one of four qualifying exceptions. Despite progress made in the ROE Act and in the 2022 Shield Law to expand access to abortion later in pregnancy, this arbitrary restriction still forces dozens of patients to travel out of state for abortion later in pregnancy every year.
Expanding Abortion Access in Massachusetts is Popular
In March, Reproductive Equity Now Foundation unveiled polling showing that two in three (66%) Massachusetts voters support expanding abortion access throughout pregnancy based on the professional judgment of a licensed physician. The poll affirmed Bay Staters’ support for keeping health care decisions between patients and their doctors.
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