Repro Roundup: Abortion providers in PA sue state’s DHS for prohibiting the use of Medicaid funds on abortion costs

Welcome to my column, The Repro Roundup, in which I summarize abortion news happening around the country, why it matters, and what you can do about it — in 250 words or less.

What’s the issue? Last week, eight abortion providers across the state of Pennsylvania, who cover 95% of all abortions in the state, sued the Department of Health and Human Services of PA over the prohibition of the use of Medicaid funds on covering the costs of abortions, according to an NPR report. As it stands, using Medicaid funds to cover abortion care is illegal except in the case of rape, incest, or extreme risk to the mother’s health. The trial was heard virtually on October 14th.

Why does this matter? The Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976 and upheld every single year by Congress, prevents the use of federal funds to cover the cost of abortion care. Several states allow state Medicaid funds to cover the cost of abortion, however. Such bans on public insurance coverage of abortion care disproportionately affect low-income women, many of whom are women of color, and unduly impede access to care. Medicaid bans like this one also force women to delay their care to come up with the funding to cover the cost of the procedure which can make the cost more expensive if the delays are too long. Additionally, if Roe is overturned, a likely possibility given Justice Barrett’s impending nomination to the Supreme Court, abortion will not be legally protected in the state. That would open the door for anti-abortion politicians to actively restrict abortion.

What action can I take?

• Donate to the Women’s Medical Fund of Pennsylvania, an aboriton fund that provides emergency financial assistance to those seeking abortion care in the state
• Donate to the Western Pennsylvania Fund for Choice, which provides financial assistance to Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia seeking care at Allegheny Reproductive Health Center, Pittsburgh’s independent abortion clinic
• Clinic escort at the Philadelphia Women’s Center
• Learn more about abortion restrictions in PA if Roe were to fall using this interactive map from the Center for Reproductive Rights
• Support the EACH Woman Act, a bill that would overturn the Hyde Amendment, with this campaign from AllAboveAll*
• Read this op-ed from Colorlines on why ending Hyde is integral for ending the oppression of Black women

• Subscribe to The Repro Queen of DC, my monthly newsletter on abortion access, activism, and writing on the frontlines of DC.
• Subscribe to Repro 101, a seven-week educational email series about all things repro. Topics include the basics of funding abortion, clinic escorting, anti-choice violence, and more.
• Read more of my work, browse the services I offer, and more.
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