Policies make care more affordable and accessible to Minnesotans
St. Paul, MN — Lawmakers ended the 2024 legislative session by again expanding access to health care, following last year’s historic protections for sexual and reproductive rights. While certain politicians across the country and in neighboring states have pushed an extreme agenda to ban essential health care, this year the pro-choice trifecta in Minnesota passed bills to reduce barriers to care.
“The legislature has taken important steps to expand access and affordability of essential health care,” said Tim Stanley, executive director of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund. “Minnesota has begun the work of making health care more equitable and continues to be a regional leader in protecting abortion and gender-affirming care.”
The health and commerce omnibus bills included historical investments like increased abortion care insurance coverage and gender-affirming care insurance coverage, making this sometimes life-saving care more affordable for more Minnesotans. It also allows pharmacists to prescribe, authorize, and dispense PEP and PrEP medication, making medication that helps prevent the spread of HIV more accessible. Further, the bill requires insurance coverage for maternity care if a baby and mom are separated, supporting maternal and infant health in those earliest moments, and recognizes the importance of access to culturally responsive care that meets patients’ holistic needs with funding toward cultural birth centers and stillbirth prevention grants.
While these policies will help more Minnesotans, the work of making health care equitable is ongoing. Historically marginalized communities continue to have worse access to health care—as a result, they also experience worse health outcomes. The maternal mortality rate for Black mothers is three times higher than the rate of white mothers. Even as health care providers like Planned Parenthood North Central States invest in telehealth options, rural Minnesotans face growing health care deserts and have to travel large distances for care.
“Everyone deserves access to health care, no matter your zip code, age, immigration status, race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status,” said Stanley. “It is critical to keep the historic pro-choice trifecta in office to continue expanding access and reducing barriers for all Minnesotans. When the trifecta returns, we can look to cover birth control and vasectomies, and build on the historic progress that we’ve accomplished in the last two years.”
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Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
Visit us at www.plannedparenthoodadvocate.org
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