Governor Daniel McKee of Rhode Island has actively supported reproductive freedom throughout his career. He supported the Reproductive Privacy Act of 2019, ensuring abortion remains legal in the state despite federal changes, and signed the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) to guarantee abortion services are covered by private insurance and Medicaid, removing financial barriers for low-income women. Moreover, Governor McKee has committed to vetoing any anti-abortion legislation and worked with stakeholders to safeguard and expand access throughout the state.
This landmark legislation signed by the Governor in May 2023 repealed the ban on using state funds for abortion services for Medicaid recipients and state employees, thereby expanding access to abortion coverage for nearly 90,000 individuals in the state.
Women should be trusted with their own health care decisions, and here in Rhode Island, we firmly support a right to choose. The executive order I signed today ensures that Rhode Island will continue to stand up for reproductive health care, especially in response to the shameful U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. As other states attack the fundamental right to choose, Rhode Island must do all it can to protect a person’s access to reproductive health care
Governor Daniel McKee, Rhode Island
Providing Support to Increase Access
Governor McKee and House Majority Whip Kazarian included the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act in the budget to increase access to critical reproductive services to those who need it. In doing so, they ensured that the state’s Medicaid and health insurance programs cover abortion services to expand access for everyone.
