Rhode Island governor indicators invoice that will cowl abortions for state staff, Medicaid recipients

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) on Thursday signed into regulation on Thursday a invoice that will let state funds pay for medical insurance protection for state workers and Medicaid recipients that covers abortions. 

“Right here in Rhode Island, we are going to all the time defend a girl’s proper to decide on and guarantee equal entry to those essential well being care providers,” McKee wrote on Twitter, sharing a photograph of the signing. “I’m proud to signal the Equality in Abortion Protection Act into regulation and embrace associated funding in my funds proposal.”

The brand new regulation cuts out current sections that had prohibited Rhode Island’s Medicaid and state-worker medical insurance from protecting abortions besides within the case of rape, incest or to avoid wasting the lifetime of the mom, in line with a launch from the legislature. State staff and Medicaid recipients have beforehand needed to pay totally out-of-pocket for abortion care.

Rhode Island joins greater than a dozen different states whose Medicaid applications now cowl abortion, in line with the discharge. 

The invoice handed the state Senate 24-12 after clearing the state Home 49-24. 

“The aim of Medicaid is to develop entry to well being care, to not restrict it,” Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos stated. “I’m proud that after years of labor, the passage of the Equality in Abortion Protection Act has eradicated of unjust restrictions on who can afford to entry to reproductive well being care in Rhode Island.”

A gaggle of Home Democrats earlier this yr reintroduced a proposal on the federal degree that will require authorities sponsored well being applications, like Medicaid, to offer protection of abortion providers.