In a press conference with Massachusetts legislators and advocates Tuesday, the state's head of Planned Parenthood said that not only is the state ready to support patients seeking abortion care from other states, but it has already stepped up to do so.
“We are getting incoming calls from other states from patients who are living in the deep-red states," said Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. "We've taken care of patients for Texas in particular in both our Springfield and Boston offices. We're ready, we’re willing.”
The press conference was held after Politico published a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling that suggests the high court is likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized federal abortion nationwide.
But Childs-Roshak said that access to out-of-state abortion comes at a cost, and Planned Parent is looking for ways to help patients navigate to the care they need, including funding to help them get to Massachusetts.
“This will be a devastating unprecedented health care crisis. Pregnant people, especially poor people, Black and Brown people, LGBTQ people will face extraordinary barriers to care,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, executive director of reproductive equity now. She added that she's concerned people will have to travel hundreds of miles, with others being unable to afford to travel at all.
There are 26 states poised to ban abortion care overnight if the decision comes down, she added.
Abortion rights are still in place nationwide as of Tuesday, and in Massachusetts, they will continue to be protected despite federal law due to the Roe Act, a law that codified the right to abortion in Massachusetts in 2020. The legislation was passed after Justice Brett Kavanaugh was nominated by former President Trump, signaling to pro-choice leaders that abortion rights may be at risk.
"We fortunately codified the right to abortion in 2020, and that means that our Massachusetts women will remain protected, and those who come to Massachusetts seeking abortion care will be protected," said Sen. Harriette Chandler, a Worcester Democrat who filed the legislation, in a phone interview. “I know that they will become desperate because I've seen that desperation, what happens when a woman doesn't have the right to protect her own body, to control her body, to make decisions for her own family.”
Legislators and advocates confirmed that Massachusetts has already seen patients from Texas, where abortion was banned at six weeks, as well as a more local state, New Hampshire which recently made it illegal to end a pregnancy after 24 weeks and is requiring every patient seeking an abortion to get an ultrasound.
“We know that the anti-choice legislators in New Hampshire have successfully passed laws. We're worried about it. We’re watching it,” Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts Carol Rose said. “We know there are patients from New Hampshire coming here for care and we're very much keeping an eye on it.”
Public officials and advocates on Monday described Massachusetts as a leader for abortion protections in the past, saying it will continue to do so if the draft becomes official.
“We are proud of the commonwealth’s long history as a leader in reproductive rights. Along with our elected officials, we are committed to maintaining the strong infrastructure our healthcare providers have built for individuals seeking safe, accessible reproductive care," said Steve Walsh, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, in a statement to the Business Journal.
In an interview, Chandler said it's possible Congress could codify a law allowing abortions. At the state level, the Senator is looking a several options, including a constitutional amendment preserving abortion in Massachusetts.
Senate President Karen Spilka said legislators are open to options, including following suit of Connecticut, which just sent a bill to their governor to help shield out-of -state patients from being sued if they have abortions in Connecticut.
“People having access to health care, being able to choose when and if to parent, all of those things go into building a healthier economy, as well as a healthier personal livelihood."
While speakers on Monday were said they were horrified by the draft opinion, many said it was expected, and that more rights could be stripped away.
“They will come for LGBTQ communities, communities of color, for immigrant communities, they will come because they have told us they will. This is not hyperbole. This is not paranoia. Look at the votes of the GOP in state houses and Congress and the US Senate,” Congresswoman Katherine Clark said, encouraging people to go out and vote in November.
Other speakers in attendance included Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, and House Speaker Ron Mariano.
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Original story HERE.