ACCESS Act of 2024 Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services Act of 2024
Impact
If enacted, the bill would allocate $200 million annually from 2024 to 2028 to finance grants to eligible healthcare entities. These grants are intended to support activities like expanding facilities, improving medical supplies, and employing additional clinical staff. The focus of the funding will generally prioritize organizations in states experiencing a notable influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortion services. This policy aims to diminish the obstacles faced by individuals, particularly marginalized groups disproportionately affected by restrictive laws, thereby facilitating more equitable access to reproductive healthcare.
Summary
House Bill 7059, known as the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services Act of 2024 (or the ACCESS Act of 2024), aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a federal grant program designed to increase capacity for providing abortion services and other sexual and reproductive health care. The bill recognizes the heightened demand for abortion services, especially in states where abortion remains legal, following recent legal changes that have restricted access in various jurisdictions. With the increase in patients traveling from states with stricter abortion laws, this initiative intends to address the growing strain on healthcare facilities by enhancing service capacity.
Contention
Despite its supportive intent, the bill faces potential contention from various stakeholders. Some organizations argue that while the bill attempts to mitigate access challenges in states where abortion is legal, it might unintentionally propagate the disparities in states with more restrictive legislation. Critics may be concerned that federal grants could encourage or lead to an increase in abortion services in a divided political landscape where such issues are sensibly contentious. Additionally, discussions may arise regarding the effectiveness of merely increasing capacity without addressing systemic barriers such as socioeconomic factors that affect access to reproductive healthcare.
Women's Health Protection Act of 2023 This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. Before fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from using particular abortion procedures or drugs, offering abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately providing abortion services if delaying risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require providers to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, or comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers who offer medically comparable services to abortions. Additionally, governments may not require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining services. After fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from performing abortions when necessary to protect a patient's life and health. The same provisions that apply to abortions before viability also apply to necessary abortions after viability. Additionally, states may authorize post-viability abortions in circumstances beyond those that the bill considers necessary. Further, the bill recognizes an individual's right to interstate travel, including for abortion services. The bill also prohibits governments from implementing measures that are similar to those restricted by the bill or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may sue states or government officials to enforce this bill, regardless of certain immunity that would otherwise apply.