News & Updates
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Boston Globe | Since Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion rates have doubled in Mass. Here’s why.
“The number of abortions later in pregnancy increased, but not significantly. There are people who do need abortion past 24 weeks and have been denied that care and have had to go out of state,” said Taylor St. Germain, interim president of Reproductive Equity Now, a nonprofit and New England advocacy group.
Reproductive Equity Now Responds to HHS Attacks on Massachusetts Abortion Coverage Mandate
Reproductive Equity Now Interim Co-Executive Director Claire Teylouni released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will investigate Massachusetts’ mandate that health insurance plans cover abortion care. The Trump administration is investigating 13 states, all of which protect abortion care, in an attempt to roll back reproductive freedom, especially for those who face the greatest barriers to care.
WBUR | Mass. reports dramatic abortion rise in 2024, driven by pills shipped out of state
“This drastic increase in abortion numbers tells us there’s a definite need for this type of care and that our shield laws are working,” said Taylor St. Germain, interim executive director of the abortion rights group, Reproductive Equity Now.
Massachusetts is one of 22 states with laws designed to protect abortion and sometimes transgender care providers from criminal, civil and licensing charges filed by residents of other states. Several challenges to these laws are moving through state courts.
New Report Shows Number of Out-of-State Abortions from Massachusetts Providers Doubled from 2023 to 2024
Reproductive Equity Now released the following statement in response to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s release of the latest 2024 abortion data. This report shows a significant increase in the number of abortions provided to out-of-state patients, with 27, 836 individuals accessing care from Massachusetts providers — nearly double the number reported in 2023.
Boston Globe: Rebecca Hart Holder has always known the war on women is bigger than abortion
A leader in the battle for reproductive rights is stepping down. She’s confident the war can be won.
Massachusetts Rescinds Dangerous Article V Convention Calls
Following calls from reproductive rights, good government, and labor groups, the Massachusetts legislature moved today to protect all American’s constitutional rights by rescinding the state’s previous calls for an Article V constitutional convention.
Advocates Urge Legislature to Rescind and Reject Dangerous Calls for a Constitutional Convention
Today, good government, organized labor, and reproductive rights leaders testified before the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs in support of H.4692 and S.2684, joint resolutions filed by House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch and Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem to rescind all previous Article V Constitutional Convention applications. The groups also opposed any new resolution calling for an Article V convention.
Reproductive Equity Now Joins Labor, Reproductive Rights, Civil Liberties Advocates Applaud Massachusetts State Senate’s Passage of Data Privacy Legislation
The Massachusetts Senate today passed the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (S.2608), which would provide strong, comprehensive protections for consumers and communities especially vulnerable to the abuse of sensitive personal data. The MDPA combines the most effective provisions of data privacy laws passed in other states while avoiding novel compliance obligations for businesses.
Reproductive Equity Now Publishes Comprehensive White Paper on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy
Reproductive Equity Now has authored a new resource for reporters and advocates who are interested in reporting or researching abortion care that occurs later in pregnancy and ongoing efforts to expand access to abortion care throughout pregnancy.
Governor Healey Signs Updated Shield Law Strengthening Protections for Health Care Providers and Patients
Today, Governor Maura Healey signed the updated Shield Law to strengthen protections for patients and providers. The new law prevents the disclosure of sensitive data, such as a physician’s name, and formally establishes that abortions are to be provided in emergencies due to medical necessity. Additionally, the law prohibits Massachusetts state or local authorities from cooperating with any federal or out-of-state investigation into health care services that are legally protected in Massachusetts, such as abortion care.
Reproductive Equity Now Celebrates $2 Million Delivered to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care in Massachusetts
Reproductive Equity Now President, Rebecca Hart Holder, released the following statement after Governor Maura Healey, House Speaker Ron Mariano, and Senate President Karen Spilka announced that they are delivering $2 million in state funding to Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts amidst the Trump Administration’s attacks on reproductive health care clinics nationwide.
Reproductive Equity Now Urges Abortion Throughout Pregnancy - No Exceptions
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.
Reproductive Equity Now Applauds Massachusetts Senate Vote to Strengthen Shield Law
Reproductive Equity Now’s President Rebecca Hart Holder released a statement after the Massachusetts State Senate voted 37-3 today to engross S.2538, An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth. This critical legislation would expand the state’s telehealth shield law by prohibiting all state actors from cooperating with any out-of-state hostile litigation, establishing state-level EMTALA protections for emergency abortion care, allowing providers critical anonymity by using their practice name on prescription labels for reproductive and gender affirming health care medicines, and ensuring all clinicians and lawyers are protected from professional discipline related to hostile litigation, and more.
Boston Globe | With abortion rights under new threat, Mass. lawmakers aim to better protect providers
“The Dobbs decision three years ago made it clear that the fight for abortion access is in the states,” Claire Teylouni, senior director of policy and programs at Boston-based advocacy group Reproductive Equity Now. “It’s up to them to fight back.”
Reproductive Equity Now Senior Policy & Programs Director Testifies on Legislation Updating Massachusetts Shield Law
Reproductive Equity Now’s Senior Director of Policy and Programs, Claire Teylouni, testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary during a public hearing in support of S.2522, An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth.
State House News Service | Ralliers knock "100 days of harm" under Trump
"I think the most concerning thing we're seeing right now is the chilling effect — people don't know, necessarily, what their rights are. They're confused about what they're able to access and what they cannot, even here in Massachusetts," Claire Teylouni, senior director of policy and programs at Reproductive Equity Now, told the News Service.
Reproductive Equity Now Calls for Elimination of Out-of-Pocket Costs for Full Spectrum of Pregnancy Care
This morning, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Financial Services will hear testimony from the public on An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care (S.761/H.1311), legislation that will eliminate cost sharing for the full spectrum of pregnancy care and ensure patients are not saddled with exorbitant costs or catastrophic deductibles after giving birth. Reproductive Equity Now will testify at this hearing and has released the following statement in advance.
Reproductive Equity Now joins Advocates, experts call on lawmakers to ban sale of location data
At the Massachusetts State House, domestic violence advocates, reproductive advocacy groups, privacy and technology experts, LGBTQ+ organizations, labor unions, abortion care providers, and others are today calling on state lawmakers to ban the sale and trade of precise geolocation data.
Repro Equity Now Statement After Trump Administration Cuts Millions in Title X Funding for Planned Parenthood Clinics
Today, Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now, released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally announced that it will be freezing Title X funding for thirteen Planned Parenthood affiliates, citing their refusal to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices. Title X funding provides access to critical preventative care like low-cost/free birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment. According to Physicians for Reproductive Health, in 2022, through Title X funds, providers at sexual and reproductive health care clinics across the country were able to serve 2.6 million family planning patients. Title X funds cannot be used for abortion care.