Peachy ‘Pinions: SCOTUS threatens the future of healthcare access
After years of a coordinated campaign against abortion rights, Republicans finally got their way. The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and millions of American women have lost control over their own bodies. Republican attacks on women’s health care are nothing new. They have been sabotaging access to contraception, ignoring the maternal mortality crisis, and resisting Medicaid expansion for years. Since 2010, Republicans have been sabotaging the Affordable Care Act (ACA). With restrictions popping up across the country, its requirement that insurance companies cover contraceptives is needed now more than ever. The ACA also requires coverage, without cost-sharing, for many preventative services for women including cancer screenings. No Republicans voted for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in the House, despite describing themselves as “pro-life.” Passage would’ve provided millions to address the causes of America’s maternal mortality crisis. Georgia has the second-highest rate of maternal mortality in the country at 48.4 per 100,000. For African American women its worse, 66.6 per 100,000. Generations of inequality have resulted in women experiencing high coverage costs, poor outcomes, and inequities. Despite robust incentives to expand Medicaid in the American Rescue Plan, Republicans in 12 states, including ours, continue to lock millions out of affordable coverage. Everyone deserves affordable, quality health care – including full access to reproductive care. Between their sabotage of the ACA to refusing Medicaid expansion and fighting measures to combat maternal mortality, Republicans have done their best to limit access. The Supreme Court decision has not only opened the floodgate for states to ban and criminalize abortion, but it threatens the future of safe reproductive care. Reforms at the federal level are needed now to prevent further erosion of health care access. Christina Ward Decatur, GA

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