- Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra urged patience as his department reviews its options to counter the Supreme Court’s abortion decision. Acknowledging that there is “no magic bullet,” Becerra said the department is focusing on five areas: 1) increasing access to medication abortion, 2) ensuring privacy and nondiscrimination for reproductive care patients and providers, 3) examining its authority under the Emergency Medical Treatment Act to support doctors’ and hospitals’ clinical judgment when treating pregnant patients, 4) ensuring providers across the care continuum have appropriate family planning training and resources, and 5) protecting family planning care, including emergency contraceptives and long acting reversable contraceptives. He also announced that the department launched a new website, ReproductiveRights.gov, to inform those living in abortion restrictive states what reproductive health care rights, coverage, and services are available to them. (Speech here; Articles here, here, here, here, and here)
June 29, 2022
D.C. News