Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (H 5006) passes through Rhode Island House in Historic Vote for Abortion Access

The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act will secure abortion coverage for people enrolled in Medicaid and repeal the abortion coverage exclusion for state employee insurance plans. 

Providence, RI – Tonight, the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted in overwhelming support of H 5006, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA).  

"This is a historic victory in the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom and equity in Rhode Island," said Gretchen Raffa, vice president of Public Policy, Advocacy & Organizing at Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island. "Lifting these barriers to abortion coverage is essential to ensuring that people have the autonomy to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their families without political interference."

If signed into law, the EACA will impact over 86,000 Rhode Islanders by adding abortion coverage to Rhode Island's Medicaid program and eliminating bans on abortion coverage for state employees and their dependents. Additionally, the EACA will remove discriminatory abortion coverage bans that have disproportionately harmed people who face the greatest barriers to health care, including Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, people with low incomes, people living in rural areas, and LGBTQ+ people, specifically trans and nonbinary people.

The EACA was sponsored by House Majority Whip Representative Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) and approved in a vote of 49-24. 

 “Although we were successful in codifying Roe V. Wade into state law, access to reproductive health is still not equal in our state for all of our residents.  Unless an individual is able to pay the costs out of pocket or is on private insurance, these essential health care services are still out of reach for too many Rhode Islanders, including many who do not have significant financial resources.  With reproductive rights remaining under attack in Washington, the passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act will provide access for everyone in Rhode Island who needs reproductive health services,” said Kazarian 

Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island is calling on the state Senate to take swift action in supporting the EACA. The legal right to abortion is meaningless if you cannot afford or access the health care you need. The EACA will keep people — not politicians — in charge of decisions that affect their bodies. 

For more information about Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island, visit ppvotes.org.

###

Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island (PPV!RI) is the 501(c)(4) advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE).