NY Gov. Commits $1.68M to Protect Reproductive Healthcare Access

By Sarai Rodriguez

April 25, 2023 - New York State's Securing Reproductive Health Centers Program, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, will allocate over $1.68 million in grants to enhance reproductive healthcare access for services at nonprofit community health centers statewide.

The Securing Reproductive Health Centers Program funding will enable 20 healthcare networks and nonprofit organizations to enhance security measures for patients and staff at 51 locations across the state. Each facility will receive up to $50,000 to ensure safe and accessible reproductive health and abortion services.

"Women deserve to be able to make their own choices about their bodies, informed with reliable health care guidance," Governor Hochul said in a press release. "These grants will help protect abortion access and ensure providers may continue to deliver critical services to those in need. As extremists in the courts and in other states continue their attack on our rights, New York will always fight to support providers and all patients who need care."

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Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado emphasized that this move reaffirms New York's commitment to protecting reproductive freedoms, particularly considering Roe v. Wade's reversal.

"We refuse to roll back the clock on reproductive freedoms in New York," Delgado said. "With these grants, we can ensure healthcare networks and nonprofit organizations can continue to provide safe and accessible abortion services. This state will remain a safe haven for anyone seeking the full range of reproductive healthcare options they need and deserve."

The grant totals $1,686,786.66 to be split among 51 facilities. Facilities will use the awards for security enhancements, including training for security personnel, perimeter lighting, alarm systems, door hardening, and shatter-resistant glass.

"We are doing everything we can to make sure abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible in New York State, despite what has happened in the federal courts," James McDonald, MD, department of health acting commissioner, said. This investment by the Governor will help keep providers safe and secure as they work to meet the healthcare needs of individuals seeking to make their own decisions about their reproductive health and their future."

This move comes alongside research stating that restrictive abortion policies could have significant impacts on patient access to care. The research from The Commonwealth Fund showed that trigger laws that would bar patient access to care have already been enacted in some states following the reversal of Roe v. Wade. With the potential for patients to travel across state lines to access care, those living too far from these destinations may face additional barriers.

However, patients who live too far away from locations where they can access care may face additional barriers, potentially limiting their ability to receive necessary healthcare.

Moreover, the study emphasized that restrictive abortion policies are structural determinants that dictate who can access healthcare and through what means. As a result, these laws seriously impede patient access to care, and the researchers discovered that patients are unlikely to seek healthcare if the location is too far away.

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NY Gov. Commits $1.68M to Protect Reproductive Healthcare Access

In response to shifting abortion laws, New York State has established a grant program for nonprofit health centers aimed at ensuring reproductive healthcare access and abortion services across the state.

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