Albany – State Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Liz Krueger, and Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Co-Chairs of the New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus, today released a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Director Roger Severino, opposing proposed rule changes that would vastly expand the ability of healthcare providers and associated individuals to deny care to patients based on their personal beliefs. The proposed rules threaten to endanger the safety and well-being of a broad range of Americans seeking a variety of healthcare services. The full text of the letter can be read below, and is also available here.

“The fact that it is 2018 and yet we need to keep fighting to ensure women have access to emergency healthcare and preventative services is deeply troubling,” said Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “The proposed changes drafted by the Trump Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services are simply unacceptable and put women’s lives and rights in danger. New York State has a responsibility to step up and voice our outrage with these proposals, and I am proud to join my BPCLC colleagues in this fight.”

“These proposed rules are an outrageous expansion of the Trump Administration’s war on women’s health and the freedom of a woman to make her own decisions about her life and her body,” said State Senator Liz Krueger. “The rules not only violate existing laws to protect patients, they also contravene the ethical obligation of healthcare providers to offer the best care based on patients’ needs. If these rules take effect, the result will be more stigmatization, injury, and death for women seeking reproductive healthcare.”

“In 2018 the discriminatory rules proposed by the Trump Administration put our patient-centered healthcare system and women’s very lives in danger, making it abundantly clear that the fight for women’s freedom and full equality is far from over,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee. “New York State has a long history of standing up for women’s rights and protecting individuals from discrimination. Today, I stand with my BPCLC colleagues in strong opposition to these outrageous proposals and vow to continue fighting for every woman’s fundamental right to make reproductive health care decisions that are best for her and her family.”

On January 26th, the Department of Health and Human services issued a proposed rule change that greatly expands the ability of individuals and entities to refuse care to patients based on their religious or moral beliefs. The rules allow for the denial of any part of a health care service, and offer an expansive definition of those who “assist in the performance” of those services, potentially including support staff, receptionists, or volunteers. In addition, under the proposed rules, providers refusing care are not required to offer any information or referrals related to obtaining care, and are not even required to inform patients that they are not being offered the full range of care. Further, the rules expand the definition of “health care entity” to include insurance plan sponsors and administrators, meaning employers could refuse to provide insurance to cover certain care, a clear violation of existing law.

The New York State Bipartisan Pro-Choice Legislative Caucus (BPCLC) was established in 2010, and includes members of both the State Senate and Assembly. The mission of the BPCLC is to protect reproductive rights across the state, and provide a voice for pro-choice state legislators in policy debates at both the state and national level. Specifically, the BPCLC works to protect access to quality reproductive health services, remove barriers to these services, ensure access to education about reproductive choices, and respond to any potential infringements to the legal right to reproductive healthcare in New York State.

BACKGROUND:
–National Women’s Law Center Fact Sheet: https://nwlc-ciw49tixgw5lbab.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Proposed-Rule-FS-2.pdf
–Communities Advocating Emergency Aids Relief Memo: http://www.caear.org/caear/pdf/CAEAR_HHSConscienceRulesChange.pdf
–Proposed Rule Text: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=HHS-OCR-2018-0002-0001

Albany - Today New York Assembly Members took action to protect women’s reproductive health and rights, passing three critical bills: the Reproductive Health Act (S2796 Krueger, Stewart-Cousins/A1748 Glick), the Boss Bill (S3791 Krueger/A566 Jaffee), and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act (S3668 Bonacic/A1378 Cahill). Passage of these bills ensures access to safe and legal abortion, freedom from discrimination in the workplace for employees' reproductive healthcare decisions, and removes barriers to accessing contraception.
 
At this crucial time when women’s health and reproductive rights are under attack at the national and federal level, the BPCLC asserts the importance of New York State demonstrating bold leadership. We must stand up for women’s equality and healthy families. The Senate must pass the Reproductive Health Act, the Boss Bill, and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, so that all New Yorkers can have the freedom to make responsible decisions for themselves and their families.
 
BPCLC Co-Chair Senator Liz Krueger released the following statement after the passage of the bill:
 
"Once again I commend my colleagues in the Assembly for making it clear that the government and employers have no business interfering in New Yorkers’ personal decisions about reproductive healthcare. Reproductive rights are under attack across the country, and soon we may not even be able to rely on the limited protections provided by Roe v Wade. Now is the time for New York to lead, with modern laws ensuring that decisions about reproductive health are the sole responsibility of a woman or a man and their medical providers. I call on the Senate Republican/IDC Coalition to bring these bills to the floor for a vote. The rights of New York State families should be fully protected by New York State laws."

​Albany – Today Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts held its Annual Day of Action, with more than 1,700 advocates, patients, and supporters of reproductive rights in attendance. Following a morning rally, groups met with legislators to advocate for passage of the Women’s Agenda and funding for family planning in New York State. 
 
Special guests at the event included Governor Andrew Cuomo, Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Democratic Conference Leader and BPCLC Co-Chair Andrea Stewart-Cousins.