Rhode Island governor indicators invoice that might cowl abortions for state employees, Medicaid recipients

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

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

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

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

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

“The aim of Medicaid is to increase entry to well being care, to not restrict it,” Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos mentioned. “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 bunch of Home Democrats earlier this yr reintroduced a proposal on the federal degree that might require authorities sponsored well being packages, like Medicaid, to supply protection of abortion companies.