PROVIDENCE – On the second day of the new legislative session in a region dominated by Democrats Rhode IslandState-funded abortion coverage for state employees and Medicaid recipients is back.
Thursday, Rep. Catherine Kazarianthe House Majority Whip, introduced this year’s version of the Abortion Equality Coverage Act.
Echoing legislation introduced last year − and the year before − the bill would add Rhode Island ranked among 16 States − including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine − whose Medicaid programs cover abortion.
“Although I am grateful that Rhode Island codified Roe V.Wade under state law, access to reproductive health is still not equal in our state,” Kazarian, D-Eastern Providencesaid Thursday.
“Unless an individual is able to pay the cost out of pocket or has private insurance, these essential health services are still out of reach for too many Rhode Islanders. abortion coverage will provide full equality for all in Rhode Island who needs access to reproductive health services,” she said.
Earlier arguments have been made in favor of expanded abortion coverage
Govt. Dan McKee has already pledged to include money in the new state budget that it is proposing to lawmakers later this month for coverage. More specifically, the Administration Department asked $71,358 for government employee and EOHHS coverage $375,462 for people insured by Medicaid.
The question was raised during McKee’s fierce campaign against his Republican anti-abortion challenger Ashley Kalus.
A McKee advertising campaign sought to draw this clear line: “Unlike his opponent – who would veto a budget including EACA – Governor McKee stands with Rhode Island women ET fights for them,” a spokeswoman said.
A past hearing drew a flood of comments, including those from the Rhode Island Catholic Conferencein the most Catholic state in the country, against “the use [of] taxpayers’ money for the reprehensible practice of abortion, which ends the life of an unborn human being.”
The counter argument of Nicole Jellinekpresident of the Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom“Today, state laws prohibit nearly one in three Rhode Islanders — Medicaid enrollees and state employees — from using their health insurance to cover abortion.
“This ban is discriminatory and racist, reinforcing health care inequities and disparities in our state,” Jellinek said.
Citing a survey conducted for the American Planned Parenthood Federation and its south New England affiliate, Jellinek said, “Our coalition of more than 20 organizations stands with the 72% of Rhode Islanders who agree that Rhode Islanders with health insurance through Medicaid or the state should receive the same coverage for services abortion than those covered by private health insurers.
“We believe that medical decisions should be private between a person and their healthcare provider.”
What is in the legislation?
Specifically, the legislation would eliminate sections of the law that expressly prohibit insurance for state employees and Medicaid recipients from covering abortion procedures, except in cases of rape or incest or where the life of the mother would be in danger, as required by federal law.
Consistent with the federal Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion services, it adds language that specifies that no federal funds shall be used to pay for them except to the extent permitted by federal law.
Kazarian’s 43 co-sponsors to date include: Reps. Edith H. AjelloD-Providence; Karen AlzateD-pawtucket; Leonela FelixD-pawtucket; House Majority Leader Christopher R. BlazejewskiD-Providence; Kathleen A. FogartyD-South Kingstown; Carol Hagan McEnteeD-South Kingstown, Narragansett; Jason KnightD-barrington; Joshua J. GiraldoD-Central falls; and Lauren H. CarsonD-Newport.
The full list was not immediately available, but more than half of the 75-member House have now officially signed on to the effort.
Kazarian noted: It’s the only medical procedure that’s excluded from state laws regarding health insurance coverage. She called it unfair and wrong.
We do not yet know how long it will take for the House and the Senate will hold hearings — and possibly vote — on the legislation, if it picks up more speed than it did in the 2022 election year.
“There’s no timeline for hearings on any bill at this point…we don’t even have any appointed committees yet,” Senate spokesperson Greg Pare says The Journal.
Appointments to committees have not yet taken place in the House either, but the Speaker of the House K.Joseph Shekarchi reaffirmed his own position on Thursday: “I am generally in favor of equal health care insurance coverage.”
