Maryland Lawmakers Pass Bill to Expand Access to Abortion

For Immediate Release: March 30, 2022
Media Contacts: press@prochoice.org; 202-918-7768

Yesterday, Maryland passed a measure to expand access to abortions by ending a restriction that only a physician could provide them, creating an abortion care training program, and requiring more insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost.

Statement from Melissa Fowler, National Abortion Federation’s Chief Program Officer:

“At a time when more and more states are moving to limit or even entirely eliminate abortion access, it is so important to see Maryland join the number of states expanding access to abortion care. As more states pass abortion restrictions, forcing patients to travel across state lines to access care, expansion of care in other states becomes all the more essential. 

Later this spring, the Supreme Court will weigh whether to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health case. If Roe is weakened or overturned, we will see a stark divide across the country as 26 states are likely to outlaw abortions or severely limit access immediately. It will then fall on the remaining states to fortify and expand abortion access like Maryland has done to both accommodate patients in their own states, as well as prepare for an influx of patients from out of state. We urge Governor Hogan to sign this important legislation to expand abortion access in Maryland.

The National Abortion Federation and our members will continue to help patients get care, no matter what state they live in. We operate a hotline that can help patients find a provider and can assist patients with travel so they can access the abortion care they need. You can call the NAF Hotline at 1-800-772-9100.”