House Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on Equality in Abortion Coverage Act on Monday
Sunday, March 05, 2023
The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee will be meeting on Monday at 2 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House to hear testimony on several bills, including the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act.
Among the legislation being heard by the committee is 2023-H 5006, sponsored by House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket), that provides for abortion coverage in the Medicaid program and repeal the abortion coverage exclusion for state employee insurance plans. The legislation will ensure that individuals on Medicaid and state health insurance plans have coverage for abortion procedures.
“While I am grateful that Rhode Island has codified Roe V. Wade into state law, access to reproductive health is still not equal in our state. Unless an individual is able to pay the costs out of pocket or is on private insurance, these essential healthcare services are still out of reach for too many Rhode Islanders. With reproductive rights remaining under attack in our nation’s capital, the passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act will provide total equality for everyone in Rhode Island who needs reproductive health services access,” said Kazarian, when the bill was introduced.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act will eliminate all bans on abortion coverage in Rhode Island. Today, state laws prohibit nearly 1 in 3 Rhode Islanders — people enrolled in Medicaid and state employees — from using their health insurance to cover abortion. This ban is discriminatory and racist, reinforcing inequity and health care disparities in our state,"said Nicole Jellinek, Chair of the Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom.
"Our Coalition of more than 20 organizations stands with the 72% of Rhode Islanders who agree that Rhode Islanders with health insurance through Medicaid or the state should receive the same coverage for abortion services as those insured by private health insurers. We believe that medical decisions should be private between a person and their health care provider. Everyone in our state deserves to make healthcare decisions that are best for them and without political interference," added Jellinek.
The legislation would eliminate sections of law that expressly prohibit state employees’ and Medicaid recipients’ insurance from covering for abortion, except in cases of rape or incest or where the life of the mother would be endangered, as required by federal law. In compliance with the federal Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion services, it adds language that specifies that no federal funds shall be used to pay for them, except as authorized under federal law.
Other Bills at Hearing
* 2023-H 5228, sponsored by Rep. Ramon A. Perez (D-Dist. 13, Providence, Johnston), criminalizes the knowing and intentional failure of a physician, nurse, or other licensed medical person to provide reasonable medical care and treatment to an infant born alive as a felony.
* 2023-H 5298, sponsored by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton), provides that pre- and post-judgment interest on civil actions begin on the date of the filing of the civil action and be calculated based upon a rate equal to the coupon issue yield equivalent.
* 2023-H 5439, sponsored by Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich), provides for punitive damages in civil actions where there is willful or wanton conduct or a reckless disregard for health, safety and welfare.
* 2023-H 5513, sponsored by Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski (D-Dist. 17, Cranston), raises the minimum recovery in a civil action to recover for a wrongful death from $250,000 to $365,000 and automatically increases for inflation the minimum recovery annually on January 31. The increase is based on the consumer price index.
The meeting will be televised live on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox on Channels 15 and 61, on i3Broadband on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers.
The meeting will also be live streamed at http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.
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