Don Berwick on Abortion

Fight for full access to basic reproductive health services

I believe strongly that neither a woman's wealth nor her geography should impact her access to high quality, affordable reproductive care. But many women in Massachusetts still struggle to access basic health care.

Some young women facing unintended pregnancies are afraid of seeking parental counsel, because of the threat of repercussions. As a result, many young women delay seeking medical care or attempt self-abortions. These young women need a sound & healthy alternative. Accordingly, I will work to pass a bill that allows a young woman to go to other trusted adults in her life to provide guidance for options counseling and consent for abortion care.

States can't exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid

Planned Parenthood of Indiana is Indiana's largest abortion provider and does more than 5,000 abortions each year. Indiana became the first state of several to kick the abortion business out of its program in May 2011. A provision of the law, HB1210, would prevent Medicaid patients from obtaining services at Planned Parenthood and othe facilities that provide abortions.

Governor Mitch Daniels signed the law, which would cut off anywhere from $2 million to $3 million the Planned Parenthood abortion business receives in federal funds via the Indiana government through Medicaid. Afterwards, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick said the federal Medicaid law stipulates that states can't exclude providers based on the services they provide [which led to the court ruling].