The constitutional amendment to Maryland’s Constitution will be approved by the Maryland General Assembly. Voters can then decide whether or not they want it on the November ballot.
Adrienne Jones, House Speaker, introduced the proposal. stated that the Supreme Court had allowed “some of the most restrictive abortion legislation we’ve ever seen in a generation”, putting at risk critical access to reproductive health care.
The Supreme Court declined to speed up a case involving Texas’ ban on abortions. Some Texas patients have had to travel hundreds of miles to visit clinics in neighboring states, or further, which has led to a backlog in appointments.
Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, stated that “restricting women’s family planning options” is unacceptable. “We will do all we can to ensure that Maryland women have access to reproductive health care.
At least 20 states, mainly in the South and Midwest have already passed laws that would restrict or ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the high court. The issue will now be up to the individual states. According to the Guttmacher Institute (a think tank devoted to reproductive rights), more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia have statutory protections for abortion rights.
Maryland passed legislation in 1991 to guarantee a woman’s rights to abortion, should the Supreme Court ever limit abortions. It was petitioned for the ballot and approved by the voters in 1992 with 62%.
The state has a 2-1 ratio of Democrats to Republicans, and the General Assembly is heavily Democratic.
Del. Jason Buckel (a Republican from western Maryland who is the House Minority Leader) said that he didn’t see the need to create a Constitution Amendment to reflect Maryland’s current law. This was especially because there haven’t been any Supreme Court rulings to alter Maryland’s laws.
Buckel of Allegany County said, “I’m a bit concerned that it’s greater politics and posturing.”
In a videoconference, lawmakers also discussed measures that would increase access to abortion in Maryland.
Del. Ariana Kelly, a Montgomery County Democrat is sponsoring a bill to increase the number qualified abortion providers in the State. This measure would eliminate a law restriction that prohibits nurse practitioners, nurse Midwives, and physician assistants from performing abortions.
Kelly stated that it was consistent with Maryland’s approach to qualifications for other types of health care procedures. It treats abortion care the way it is: as a health care procedure without any political restrictions.
Kelly stated that Maryland has seen a decline of abortion providers since 1991 when it had 52 providers. These numbers are now 44.
Kelly stated that there was a 15% decline in providers and that the population has increased by 28%. Kelly agreed.
Karen Nelson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Maryland said that every day, women in rural areas, low-income communities, and women of colour face barriers in accessing abortions.
“And this should be a serious concern to all of you because if we don’t take active steps now, we will find ourselves in a world with Roe. Those who have Roe will continue having it, and those who don’t will have it. Nelson stated that the threats to Roe V. Wade should be considered seriously.
Another measure Kelly sponsors aims to ensure equal access to abortion coverage for all, regardless of whether they are covered by private insurance or Medicaid.
Private insurance plans would be required, except those that are exempt from legal requirements, to cover abortion care without cost sharing or deducts.
Kelly stated that research has shown that cost-sharing requirements can delay access to care. Eliminating this barrier will help women get care. It makes Medicaid’s existing abortion coverage permanent and not subject to budget bills every year.
