A Health Policy and Advocacy Update - September 2022
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Thank you for your participation in the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s State Liaison Network (SLN). Our quarterly newsletter brings you the latest advocacy, policy, and public health updates, happenings, and actions from the Society.
In this issue, we cover how are members have taken action to support abortion access; state and federal updates; action opportunities and the next SLN webinar; and both external and internal materials to read, including tools from our partners.
We are also pleased to introduce Samantha Berg, our new Manager, State Advocacy. If you have questions or are interested in learning more about advocacy opportunities in your state, you can email her directly at sberg@smfm.org.
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Massachusetts – In July, SLN members Dr. Chloe Zera and Dr. Erika Werner spearheaded a letter to leaders in the Massachusetts Senate endorsing legislation that would further expand access to abortion care for pregnant people in the Commonwealth, as well as shield clinicians and patients from lawsuits and investigations initiated by states that have outlawed abortion care. Massachusetts Governor Baker signed the expansive abortion protections bill into law.
Michigan – On September 2, SLN member Dr. Courtney Townsel joined colleagues from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in leading an open letter from Michigan clinicians to Michigan voters supporting the Reproductive Freedom for All Initiative, a ballot measure that would protect access to abortion care in the state. This letter will signal to Michiganders that their health care providers support their freedom to make reproductive health decisions.
South Carolina – On August 17, SLN member Dr. Amy Crockett provided testimony to the South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 1, a six-week abortion ban, as well as further restrictions to abortion. You can watch a recording of the hearing, including Dr. Crockett’s testimony, here.
On the same day, the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously voted to temporarily block the six-week ban. In their ruling, they cited language in the state constitution that protects individuals from “unreasonable invasions of privacy.”
If you need assistance on an advocacy or public health initiative, please contact Samantha Berg, Manager, State Advocacy (sberg@smfm.org). We can help you with letter writing, testimony, or any other requests.
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SMFM joined partnering organizations to file amicus briefs opposing abortion bans in Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
We also joined partners in briefs filed in Idaho and Texas underscoring the importance of federal law requiring clinicians to provide stabilizing medical care, including abortion care, to patients experiencing medical emergencies.
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CELEBRATING ABORTION ACCESS WINS
On September 7, a Michigan judge declared the state's 1931 abortion ban unconstitutional, keeping abortion legal in the state. The law, which only included exceptions for the life of the pregnant person, would have criminalized abortion and threatened providers with felony charges.
On August 2, an overwhelming majority of Kansas voters – nearly 60% – upheld abortion rights and voted “no” on a ballot question that would have amended the Kansas Constitution to state that there is no state constitutional right to abortion.
MONITORING ABORTION BANS
At least 17 states have abortion bans up to 20 weeks gestation currently or soon to be in effect: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
11 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas) have total bans.
In 9 states, courts are determining if existing or new bans can take effect: Arizona, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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ADDITIONAL STATES EXTEND POSTPARTUM MEDICAID COVERAGE
The Biden Administration continues to approve state requests to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months. On September 8, the Administration announced that Indiana and West Virginia will now provide a full year of Medicaid coverage after delivery. These two states join California; Connecticut; Florida; Hawaii; Illinois; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; New Jersey; New Mexico; Ohio; Oregon; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia; Washington state; and Washington, D.C. in providing this critical coverage to new mothers. For the latest information on the status of postpartum Medicaid coverage in your state, check out Kaiser Family Foundation’s Tracker. SMFM stands ready to work with you on efforts to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage in your state.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXPLORES USING MEDICAID WAIVERS TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, the Biden Administration has attempted to use it federal authority to protect access to abortion care. In August, the Administration announced plans to work with states with permissive abortion policies to submit 1115 Medicaid waivers to help increase access to care for women from states where reproductive rights are under attack. If you live in a state with laws and policies that protect access to abortion care, SMFM would be happy to connect with you to discuss an advocacy strategy to encourage your state’s policymakers to pursue this opportunity.
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SHARE YOUR ABORTION STORY
If you are a provider of abortion care, someone who has had an abortion, or someone who has witnessed the inequity in access to abortion care, please share your story with SMFM. Sharing your story is extremely important and necessary to destigmatize abortion care, uplift others who share a similar experience, and take back the abortion narrative.
WRITE A BLOG POST
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You are invited to the next SLN webinar, Clinicians as Advocates: State Ballot Initiatives on Abortion, on Tuesday September 27 from 12:00 to 1:15pm ET.
The webinar will provide a history of efforts to restrict or expand access to abortion care through ballot initiatives, highlight upcoming ballot initiatives, and share how clinicians are uniquely poised to support these campaigns.
Attendees will be directed to current campaigns and receive follow-up materials to support their advocacy.
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SMFM AND PARTNER RESOURCES |
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National Advocates for Pregnant Women:
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Please share any feedback or items for future newsletters directly with Samantha Berg, SMFM's State Advocacy Manager (sberg@smfm.org).
You are receiving this newsletter because you are a member of SMFM's State Liaison Network. If you'd no longer like to receive these communications, please unsubscribe below. If you'd prefer to no longer be a member of the Network, please email Anna Hall, SMFM's Advocacy and Communications Coordinator (ahall@smfm.org).
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