Rhode Island governor signs bill to cover abortions for state workers, Medicaid recipients
Source: UPI
May 19 (UPI) -- Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee has signed legislation permitting state funds to cover abortions for state employees and Medicaid recipients. The Democratic governor signed the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act into law Thursday, hours after the Rhode Island Senate passed the bill 24 to 12 and nearly a month after the state's House passed its version of the bill 49 to 24 on April 27.
Both branches of the state's government are Democratic controlled. "Here in Rhode Island, we will always protect a woman's right to choose and ensure equal access to these crucial healthcare services," McKee said in a tweet that accompanied a picture of him signing the bill.
The act specifically eliminates sections of law that prohibited Rhode Island's Medicaid programs and health insurance plans for state employees from covering abortions unless the pregnancy caused life-threatening complications or was the result of rape or incest.
By removing the sections, the legislature adds Rhode Island to the list of 16 states where Medicaid programs cover abortion, according to a release on the act from the governor's office. "It has been too long that those in Medicaid and the State Employee Health Plan have been denied access to abortion care," Nicole Jellinek, chair of the Rhode island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, said in a statement.
Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/05/19/Rhode-Island-abortion-access-expanded/6601684481169/
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https://www.kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/abortion-under-medicaid/
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