Massachusetts Earns a ”B-” in Protecting Women’s Reproductive Rights from NARAL Pro-Choice America, According to New ”Who Decides” Report

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America released its annual report Who Decides? The Status of Women’s Reproductive Rights in the United States, in which states are graded based on the availability and quality of women’s reproductive health care. In 2014, Massachusetts received a “B-,”ranking 16th in the nation for its ability to provide those services.

To read the report, please visit: www.WhoDecides.org

Massachusetts received a B- in Who Decides? because many women in Massachusetts, particularly young women, still face substantial barriers to accessing basic health care, including abortion care. Laws still exist on the books that would ban abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned, and some medical providers can still refuse to provide women with needed reproductive health care or referrals.

“Massachusetts’ B- grade in Who Decides? helps remind us that there is still more work to do before all women in the Commonwealth have equal access to reproductive health care,” said Megan Amundson, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

“While there is work to be done, Massachusetts has a lot to be proud of. Over the last year, elected officials in Massachusetts have pro-actively worked to eliminate barriers to reproductive health care for women. We’ve passed two new pro-choice laws and promulgated regulations that eliminate barriers for women to access basic health care. In November, an overwhelming pro-choice electorate voted in another pro-choice majority in the legislature—one of the few left in the nation.

“NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is building off of this momentum to become a national leader by working aggressively in the 2015-2016 legislative session to continue to break down barriers that women face across the Commonwealth.”

“Massachusetts is one of the few states expanding access to reproductive health care at a time when many states are moving backwards,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “States across the country and the federal government can learn a lot from Massachusetts about how to provide women with the health care they deserve. Massachusetts is on track to move the whole country forward, but it still has a long way to go.”