Reproductive Rights and Health

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, reproductive health and rights have been threatened across the country. Without a right to reproductive freedom at the federal level, 20 states have abortion bans, putting women’s health at risk. States have become the central arena for protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care.

What We’re Doing

The Clinton Policy Institute hosted its inaugural convening on reproductive health and freedom, bringing together public officials, legal experts, advocates, providers, and funders to examine the challenges facing reproductive freedom and to identify and accelerate state policy and legal responses that support patients and providers. We continue to advise government leaders, nonprofits, and donors on pressing policy issues, including access to medication abortion and contraception, emergency medical care, and reproductive health privacy.

States Are Using a Wide Range of Tools and Adopting Innovative Policies to Protect Reproductive Freedom

From executive orders and legislative reforms to public-private partnerships, state leaders are advancing policies that protect patients, providers, and families nationwide. Several states have enshrined protections for reproductive health care in their state laws and constitutions. In addition, 22 states and Washington, DC have enacted interstate shield laws to minimize legal risks for patients, providers, and others assisting people seeking reproductive health care. These laws are critical to ensuring patients in ban states can continue to access abortion care.

Some states have passed coverage mandates for reproductive health care, requiring Medicaid and private insurance to cover abortion, contraception, and fertility care. Other proactive tools include comprehensive data privacy protections, stronger telehealth infrastructure, practical support funds, clinic protections, support hotlines, and expanded authority for which providers can provide care. These innovative tools and policies can be replicated across states to protect and expand access to reproductive health care.

Ongoing Threats to Access Must be Addressed

Even as states pass innovative policies to protect reproductive freedom, new threats continue to emerge. H.R. 1 blocked thousands of patients from using Medicaid at Planned Parenthood for one year, causing health centers across the country to close, while Title X family planning budget cuts and shifts in guidance on birth control methods threaten access to essential preventive health services. Access to medication abortion continues to be the subject of court battles, the FDA is considering reviewing the safety of the abortion pill, despite its approval as safe and effective nearly three decades ago, and states are introducing legislation to restrict access to reproductive health care and criminalize pregnancy outcomes and also pursuing legal action against abortion providers. These ongoing challenges continue to threaten access and increase disparities in reproductive health care and outcomes.

Collaboration, Coordination, and Communication Are Essential

States cannot address these threats alone. Durable solutions require collaboration among state and local leaders, legal experts, advocates, providers, and funders. These stakeholders must continue to come together to exchange ideas, share best practices, and coordinate across partners. In addition, sustained communication is necessary to convey the urgency of threats to reproductive health care access, as well as the protections that are available. States and advocates must continue to communicate the stakes of this fight and ensure patients and providers have access to the information they need.

Ongoing Work

The Clinton Policy Institute serves as a convener and resource, collecting and sharing promising policies and best practices, connecting public officials and other state leaders, and developing short- and long-term policy options to protect and advance reproductive health care access. This work includes focused strategy sessions among experts, as well as larger convenings that engage policymakers and advocates at the state and local levels.