Albany, NY – Today, the New York State Legislature passed a series of initiatives to ensure women's reproductive rights. One of these initiatives, The Reproductive Health Act, has already been signed into law. This comes concurrently with the 46th anniversary of the pivotal Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, which established that a woman's liberty to pursue contraceptive measures is to be highly safeguarded by the constitution.

Roe v. Wade proved to be monumental for women's health. Prior to the decision, women turned to risky and illegal abortions. Today, only about 0.3% of women undergoing legal abortions at all gestational ages sustain serious complications requiring hospitalization.¹Â Roe v. Wade made contraception a personal healthcare issue that could be self-regulated, availing many employment opportunities to women that previously were inaccessible to them. Indeed, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the agency of a woman to choose. However, state laws still temper this authority. Right now, 18 states mandate that women undergo counseling prior to the procedure and 27 states mandate that 24 hours must elapse between counseling and the procedure.²Â The NYS Legislature has voted to amend the state laws to uphold the spirit of this decision.

"Since the beginnings of this country, it has been a struggle for women to gain the right to agency that is due to them," says Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte. "The Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade was a major achievement after a long history of paternalistic regulations that sought to control women's authority over their own bodies. The idea that a woman cannot make her own decisions pertaining to her body is rooted in misogyny, sexism and inequality. I voted for this bill because I think it is yet another achievement that rightfully swings pendulum back to women deciding for themselves."

The Reproductive Health Act, or A00021, will update New York State Laws, repairing unconstitutional flaws that hinder access to safe and legal abortion. It allows abortions to be performed by not only medical doctors but nurse practitioners as well as physician's assistants. Lastly, and most importantly, this bill makes a repeal on the criminal code, which includes abortion as a criminal act.

The Legislature also passed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act (CCCA), or, A585A, which would prohibit health insurers from charging co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance on all prescribed FDA-approved contraceptives. Access to birth control is important not only because it allows women to decide if and when they are ready to start a family, but it also prevents a number of diseases including, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anemia, and can lower a woman’s risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers.³

Also included in the package is legislation prohibiting employers from discriminating against their employees based on their reproductive health choices, or A584. Loopholes came to light concerning employees’ right to privacy after a chain store, Hobby Lobby, challenged the federal requirement to cover contraception in health insurance plans. The Assembly has been consistent in passing the legislation ever since. Assemblymember Bichotte notes that employers have no right to knowledge of their employer's reproductive health decisions.

"The Roe v. Wade decision set forth the right to choose," notes Assemblymember Bichotte. "Today, the legislature mobilizes and updates that right."

Sources:

1) Planned Parenthood - Roe v. Wade: Its History and Impact

2) Guttmacher Institute - An Overview of Abortion Laws