With access to abortion severely restricted in Florida, more people will be forced to carry their pregnancies to term. Last session, the legislature funded anti-abortion fake clinics with over $30 million, this is wrong and does not address the issues related to access to pregnancy and maternal healthcare. We support tangible solutions to tackle the looming maternal care crisis in the State of Florida. State leaders have a responsibility to lower the alarmingly high rate of maternal mortality in the State of Florida. Pregnant people, especially Black people, need access to a broader range of options in the way they choose to labor and deliver their babies. This can be achieved by making Medicaid coverage for doula care permanent, and also expanding Medicaid for crucial midwifery services in the postpartum period
2024 Legislative Priorities
Expanded Access to Maternal Health Care
Access to the Full Range of Reproductive Health Care
Expand Access to Birth Control
The Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates and our supporters will continue to advocate to restore access to the full range of reproductive and sexual health care. We support measures to safeguard and enhance access to sexual and reproductive health care, to expand access to contraceptives, to fund the full range of birth control options, including Hormonal Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (HLARC), to restore access to abortion, and to promote education and prenatal care. The HLARC program had bipartisan support during recent legislative sessions and was unfortunately vetoed by the Governor both times. Access to and funding of contraceptives is crucial in preventing unintended pregnancies, pregnancy related morbidity and mortality, and lowering the rate of pregnancy among teens.
Abortion Care
Abortion is a fundamental part of reproductive health care and banning it means that providers and patients do not have access to the full range of reproductive health care. Restricting access to abortion prevents health care providers from adhering to their Hippocratic Oath to do no harm to their patients. We oppose any attempts to restrict Floridians’ ability to have bodily autonomy, including limiting access to abortion through gestational age bans.
Gender Affirming Health Care and LGBTQIA+ Rights
We support access to health care for transgender and nonbinary Floridians, including gender affirming care. Restricting access to fundamental and life-saving care on the basis of someone’s identity is discrimination. We oppose any efforts to further discriminate against the LGBTQIA+ community from the classroom to the exam room in Florida.
Young People’s Rights to Education and Comprehensive Health Care
We support the rights of students, and parents, to access comprehensive, medically accurate and age-appropriate sex education, honest history, access to contraceptives, and access to abortion and the judicial bypass process. Young people deserve the right to access information and services that empower them to make decisions about their own bodies, health, and sexuality.