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Rhode Island

Daniel McKee
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.

Daniel McKee

Governor
Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA)
This landmark legislation signed by the Governor in May 2023 repealed the ban on using state funds for abortion services for Medicaid recipients and state employees, thereby expanding access to abortion coverage for nearly 90,000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.

Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA)

Featured Action
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.

 

KEY ACTIONS

  • Providing Support to Increase Access
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Providing Support to Increase Access

    Governor McKee included funding for the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act in the budget to increase access to critical reproductive services to those who need it. In doing so, he ensured that the state’s Medicaid and health insurance programs cover abortion services to expand access for everyone.

    House Bill 5428 & Senate Bill 412
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    House Bill 5428 & Senate Bill 412

    This law ensures a patient will not be denied appropriate care on the basis of age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, national origin, source of income, source of payment or profession.

    House Bill 5426A & Senate Bill 23B
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    House Bill 5426A & Senate Bill 23B

    This law guarantees the availability of health insurance coverage to eligible residents and does not limit or exclude coverage by imposing a preexisting condition exclusion.

    Amicus Brief in Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • Amicus Brief in Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

    Governor McKee and 21 other governors filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of abortion rights in Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. In this brief, the Reproductive Freedom Alliance governors argued that if the Court reverses FDA approval of Mifepristone and limits access to the vital medicine, it could undermine Governors’ ability to provide adequate healthcare services and would have far-reaching implications beyond reproductive healthcare.

     

    Senate Bill 0103Aaa
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Senate Bill 0103Aaa

    This law authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptives.

    Equality in Abortion Coverage Act
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Equality in Abortion Coverage Act

    This landmark law signed by the Governor in May 2023 provides abortion coverage in the Medicaid program and removes the prohibition on state employee insurance coverage, ensuring access to abortion services to Medicaid recipients and state employees.

    Benson v. State of Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Benson v. State of Rhode Island

    In 2022, the Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Rhode
    Island’s Reproductive Privacy Act. The “Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act,” enhances the privacy and protection of personal data for state residents by granting them rights such as access, rectification, deletion, portability, and the ability to opt out of data sales. It imposes obligations on businesses to ensure transparency, data security, and minimization, with enforcement by the Attorney General and potential penalties for non-compliance.

    Advisory Reaffirming Legal Protection of Mifepristone
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Advisory Reaffirming Legal Protection of Mifepristone

    The Department of Health issued a formal advisory to Rhode Island providers reaffirming the legal protection of Mifepristone, and emphasizing that no alterations should be made to the process of prescribing, dispensing, and administering any reproductive health medication.

    Protecting Mifepristone Access
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Protecting Mifepristone Access

    The Executive Office of Health and Human Services conducted outreach to Medicaid Managed Care Organizations to ensure continued access to Mifepristone.

    Executive Order 22-28
  • Rhode Island
  • Rhode Island
  • July 19, 2024

    Executive Order 22-28

    This order prohibits state agencies from cooperating with any state seeking to impose civil or criminal liability or professional sanction upon a person or entity for providing reproductive health care services that are legal in Rhode Island. It also implements a policy to decline extradition requests from other states concerning matters related to reproductive health care services, and protects health care professionals from being disqualified from licensure or facing disciplinary actions as a consequence of providing or assisting with reproductive health care services.

    IN THE NEWS

  • See More
  • Governor Mckee Signs Equality In Abortion Coverage Act Into Law
  • Newport Buzz
  • Rhode Island
  • Newport Buzz
  • Rhode Island
  • May 18, 2023 • Christian Winthrop

    Governor Mckee Signs Equality In Abortion Coverage Act Into Law

    Christian Winthrop

    Following a 24-12 vote in the Senate today that granted approval by the General Assembly, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act has been signed into law.

    Rhode Island governor signs bill to fund abortion coverage for state workers and Medicaid recipients
  • Associated Press
  • Rhode Island
  • Associated Press
  • Rhode Island
  • May 18, 2023 • Associated Press

    Rhode Island governor signs bill to fund abortion coverage for state workers and Medicaid recipients

    Associated Press

    Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee signed a bill into law Thursday that would let state funds be used to pay for health insurance plans that cover state workers and Medicaid recipients seeking abortions.

    Where are state leaders taking extra steps to ensure a right to abortion?
  • ABC News
  • Rhode Island
  • ABC News
  • Rhode Island
  • June 7, 2022 • Kyla Guilfoil

    Where are state leaders taking extra steps to ensure a right to abortion?

    Kyla Guilfoil

    The governors of Colorado, North Carolina, Maine and Rhode Island have joined those who have taken an extra step in protecting abortion rights in their state this week.

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