BADT’s Reproductive Justice News Roundup (August 1, 2024)
As an organization dedicated to justice and liberation, we follow news and policy related to Reproductive Justice. This is essential to the ways we adapt, respond, and create. BADT aims to be in emergent processes. That said, these are some of the updates we’ve been tracking:
Abortion Pills: Per our post in March, so far nothing has changed. That said, there are continued attacks on access to medication abortion pills. Anti-abortion advocates, The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine are challenging the FDA's approval of Mifepristone, one of the two medications that are most commonly used for medication abortions. You can read about the case here and more about the June 13, 2024 ruling here; Abortion, Every Day is a great hub for abortion-focused news.
Increased abortion wait times: After Florida, the third most populous state in the US, banned abortions as of May 1, other states have seen an influx of patients. Per the Washington Post, “Wait times for abortion appointments have increased at approximately 30 percent of clinics across North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., the areas closest to Florida where abortion remains legal after six weeks of pregnancy.” Per New York Times, more than 171,000 patients traveled for an abortion in 2023; check this link for graphics and numbers about where folks traveled for abortion care.
Anti-trans bills: Trans Legislation Tracker states: “The number of anti-trans bills considered across the U.S. has broken records for four consecutive years. In 2023, the total number of bills considered surged more than three times the previous record. In 2024, we're already tracking 586 bills.” Trans Legislation Tracker links to other trans-related news items here. We also like Erin in the Morning for trans-related news.
Interfering with anti-trans bills: A federal judge overturned Florida’s gender-affirming care ban which will have a huge, positive impact on trans youth who need and want affirming care. Judge Robert Hinkle of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida said, “Florida has adopted a statute and rules that ban gender-affirming care for minors even when medically appropriate. The ban is unconstitutional.”
Medicaid coverage of doulas: New York State “enacted 2023-24 Executive Budget includes expanded Medicaid coverage of preventative care, including Statewide Medicaid coverage and higher reimbursement for doulas.” Details ranging from a doula directory, to schedule town halls (for doula stakeholders) to history about the NYS program can be found here. Check out National Health Law Program’s roundup of states and their medicaid coverage status here. Vermont is another state that is currently considering doula coverage.
Maternal Mortality Crisis: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a provisional report on maternal health data. The Black Mamas Matter Alliance released this statement, stating: “We find it necessary to highlight how, in certain spaces, ongoing dialogue surrounding maternal health tends to minimize the seriousness of existing challenges. Furthermore, it diverts attention from issues such as structural racism and obstetric violence faced by birthing individuals, especially within Black communities.” Read the full statement here.
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