SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE��

Reproductive Justice & 15 Years of The Affordable Care Act

Written by Becky Martin, Ģ����Ƶ Senior Manager of Reproductive Health Advocacy

Sunday, March 23rd, marked 15 years since President Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare as many call it. Since its hard-won passage have signed up for coverage through ACA marketplaces – that means now get their health care coverage via the ACA. An have gained coverage through ACA supported Medicaid Expansion in 41 states and DC.��

�ճ󲹳�’s who now have affordable health care coverage here in the United States — thanks to those who knew our nation could do better and
raised their voices for change, and didn’t take no as the answer.��

We still have a way to go to achieve Ģ����Ƶ’s long-time goal of high-quality, affordable, accessible, sustainable, and equitable healthcare for all in our nation, and join the rest of the countries in the industrialized world in providing universal health care ensuring the human right to health care (Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 25).

At Ģ����Ƶ we believe reproductive rights are human rights. With our Reproductive Health Project we explore the connections between reproductive justice and health justice, and work to help students�� lift their voices for reproductive freedom and health care for all. ��We invite you to explore and share the resources below, to celebrate the gains we’ve made, and know that even in the face of the turmoil rising in our country today Ģ����Ƶ’s vision of HEALTH CARE FOR ALL is absolutely achievable & YOU can find YOUR people in Ģ����Ƶ!

– CBPP��

�� – KFF

Medicaid & ACA Medicaid Expansion in YOUR State & Congressional District��

– HealthCare.gov

: Importance & Impact – NWLC

: A Critical Policy That Must Be Protected – Guttmacher Institute

– KFF

Preventive Care Coverage for:

No gender-based premiums:
– KFF

Insurers Cannot Limit Coverage Amounts
– KFF

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What’s Next Is What We Make It

Ģ����Ƶ National President’s Statement on 2024 Election

Hi future doctor, Annelise here.

I’m writing to you and honestly, I’m not quite sure how to articulate all of my emotions as we face an upcoming four years of uncertainty. When it comes to leadership, especially student-led organizational leadership, we often grapple with how to lead when you’re not quite sure what’s next. For our national leaders, our chapter leaders, and all of us as future and current physicians,�� the question is now— what’s next? Regardless of how you voted during this election, there are still pressing concerns that we, as the future of healthcare, need to reckon with: affordability+accessibility of healthcare, climate sustainability, mental health, gun violence, abortion rights and women’s health… the list goes on.

Over the next four years, in a major way, we will�� inherit the healthcare system that is forged and changed by this election. All of you are going through your training, me included, and developing into the kind of physician you will become and the leader you will be�� in your community. Over the next four years you will, quite literally, learn how to stand between life and death not only in the hospital�� room, but also beyond it. You will take an oath, whether to serve as a student doctor or as a fully-fledged physician, and be charged with doing no harm regardless of your political or personal beliefs. You will be scrutinized, tokenized, and some of you will choose to risk your livelihoods and licenses because of your beliefs and commitment to this profession. To become a physician in this day and age takes a tremendous amount of courage, patience, and grit. It also takes a tremendous amount of privilege and opportunity that we, as future physicians, can use to continue to fight for our patients and our profession. Regardless of who is in the White House, our fight happens day in and day out, patient by patient, family by family. If you’re anything like me, that’s exactly why you chose to dedicate your life to this work.

Medicine is not sexy, it is not easy, but oh is it worth it. We bring a lens to the medical profession�� that our predecessors cannot possibly fathom. So, it is up to us to use our voices to help them, our patients, and our communities understand the dangers we see coming. We have faced crises like this before; standing up for our values unapologetically is something that we at Ģ����Ƶ know a thing or two about. Ģ����Ƶ was forged in the fire of the VietNam War alongside the vision for and the values found within the .��

Today, I hope you’re taking the time to process and be with yourself and your loved ones. I wish I had the answers as to what’s next, but I can promise you that Ģ����Ƶ is, and will continue to be, the place you can come home to find your people and your voice. It’s been 75 years of us standing up for each other and our patients, and we’re not about to stop now.��

To those of us who are scared, angry, outraged, saddened, exhausted—we see you, I see you, and we’re here with you. We have put together a whole host of resources to help you navigate through this time (see below) and we are working on ways we can share and be in community together— stay tuned. Know you are not alone! We will regroup and find the strength to carry on towards our founding vision of a high-quality, affordable, and sustainable health care system that puts people (patients and providers) ahead of profits and ensures all have access to the care they need — regardless of how much they earn, who they work for, or what state they live in.��

For those of you looking to do something right now consider:

• Sign & share the to implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and join me in calling on the United States government and private sector organizations to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights��
• Join one of the Ģ����Ƶ Action Committees here��
• Sign up for the Ģ����Ƶ Reproductive Health Project enewsletter that is filled with useful information and action opportunities .
• Check out from the Ģ����Ƶ Wellness and Student Life Action Committee

In 1961, President John Kennedy posed to the generation of Ģ����Ƶ founders “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Join us at Ģ����Ƶ because now it’s our turn.��

Annelise

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SPOTLIGHT ON ABORTION CARE & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE��

Project 2025: What Future Physicians Need to Know about Threats
to Departments of Education & HHS, Reproductive Health Care, Physician Autonomy & More

Written by Becky Martin, Ģ����Ƶ Senior Manager of Reproductive Health Advocacy

is a 900+page “,” that a step-by-step guide for a conservative presidential administration to implement an “extreme agenda across the federal government from day one.”

Ģ����Ƶ Reproductive Health Project allies at the and the have both analyzed Project 2025 and its plans for reproductive health, abortion care, gender justice, HHS, the Department of Education, and beyond. What we are learning about the impact provisions in Project 2025 would have on healthcare and education in the U.S. is frankly alarming us, and we want to make sure it’s on your radar too!

Here are a few general findings from NWLC we want to highlight, Project 2025:

• “offers sweeping policy proposals that would dramatically overhaul how our federal government, including departments, agencies, sub-agencies, and personnel, would function”
  
  
• “seeks to impose a hierarchal, gendered, patriarchal vision of society” and “reinforce racial hierarchies”
  
  
• “seeks to dismantle all policies that are described as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and to reverse gains on gender justice and racial justice” and “calls for the elimination of federal funding for entities that promote diversity, equity, or inclusion”
  
  
• “seeks to harm LGBTQI+ people by narrowly defining sex to mean “biological sex as determined at birth,” seeking to deny transgender and nonbinary people’s existence” and “would undermine protections against sex discrimination in health care”

Related to Abortion Care, Project 2025:

• “calls for the elimination of references to “abortion,” “reproductive health,” and “sexual and reproductive rights” from all federal rules, regulations, contracts, and grants”
  
  
• “disavows abortion as part of health care. It seeks to recast HHS as the ‘Department of Life’ and would establish the mission of HHS as ‘furthering the health and well-being of all Americans from conception to natural death’ “
• “would seek to increase federal surveillance of pregnant people nationwide by mandating state reporting on state abortion data”
  
  
• “seeks to drastically expand federal laws that allow hospitals, doctors, and nurses to deny patients the care they need based on providers’ personal beliefs, not based on what is best for the patient”

Related to the Department of Education, Project 2025:

• “seeks to eliminate the Education Department entirely”
  
  
• “equates the acknowledgement of transgender people with child abuse and pornography” and “proposes harsh penalties against when school libraries include books that discuss transgender people”
  
  
• “calls for prosecuting ‘all state and local governments, institutions of higher education, corporations, and any other private employers’ that maintain affirmative action or diversity, equity, and inclusion policies”
  
  
• “strip ED’s power to cancel, discharge, or forgive balances, or modify the terms or repayment amounts, of student loan debt”
  
  
• “would rescind regulations that made it easy for those who were defrauded by their college—or who attended an institution that closed—to discharge their loans”
  
  

Find & share the full report by the National Women’s Law Center here

The Guttmacher Institute fact sheet details how its “far-reaching recommendations would severely limit reproductive autonomy and access to reproductive health care, while turning back the clock on hard-won gains, both domestically and globally.”�� They find some of the “most serious threats to sexual and reproductive health” in Project 2025 include:

1. Threats to Medication Abortion��

Project 2025 strategies include:

• “restricting—and ultimately eliminating—access to mifepristone” and “reinstating medically unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone that require in-person dispensing and limit who can prescribe and receive the medication”
  
  
• “effectively ending telehealth provision of the method” and “revoking mifepristone’s US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, which would remove the drug from the market entirely”
  
  
• “bypass the FDA and effectively ban medication abortion—and potentially all abortions—through enforcement of the Comstock Act, an 1873 anti-obscenity law that prohibits mailing anything ‘intended for producing abortion.’ The law could be used to prevent the distribution of medication and supplies needed for abortion care and if applied broadly, it could result in a nationwide total abortion ban.”

2. Broader Attacks on Abortion Access

• Project 2025 “calls on Congress to codify into law the and Amendments, harmful policies that limit access to abortion care in the United States by restricting the use of federal funds for abortion care and coverage”��

3. Denying Access to Abortion Care in Emergency Situations

• Project 2025 ��“calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to dismantle the abortion protections provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Refusal to enforce EMTALA’s protections for abortion care puts pregnant people’s lives in jeopardy, by forcing providers to risk criminal charges if they perform potentially lifesaving abortion care.”

4. Increasing Misinformation, Disinformation and Stigma

Project 2025:

• “uses charged, medically inaccurate anti-abortion rhetoric—including language falsely portraying abortion as unsafe—to break down support for abortion rights and bolster efforts to criminalize providers”
  
  
• “paves the way for increased criminalization of pregnancy outcomes other than abortion”
  
  
• “seeks to redefine basic sexual health education as ‘pornography “’ and “recommends replacing comprehensive with ���ܰ��������ܱ���”
  

5. Weaponization of Federal Medicaid Dollars

• Project 2025 “calls for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to encourage states to eliminate all Planned Parenthood facilities from their state Medicaid programs” and “suggests that CMS create a new regulation that would disqualify abortion providers nationwide”

6. Attacks on Contraception

Project 2025:

• “seeks to severely undermine two cornerstones of US contraceptive provision: Title X, the national publicly funded family planning program, and the federal contraceptive coverage guarantee of the Affordable Care Act”
  
  
• “proposes reinstating the harmful “domestic gag rule,” which would prohibit health care providers who receive Title X funding from providing abortion referrals and would require them to be physically and financially separated from any abortion-related activities, including counseling”��

7. Impact on Reproductive Health Worldwide

• Project 2025 “proposes immediately reinstating the global gag rule, which would prevent non-US NGOs from receiving US government global health assistance if they used their own, non-US funds to provide abortion services, information, counseling, referrals or advocacy”

Read & share the Guttmacher Institute detailed fact sheet here

###

Explore the Ģ����Ƶ Reproductive Health Project

Find news, tips, tools, opportunities�� & more!
for Ģ����Ƶ Repro Project eNews & Updates

Please send your comments and suggestions to rhp@amsa.org

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SPOTLIGHT ON ABORTION CARE & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE��

Healing with Art & Activism

Written by Becky Martin, Ģ����Ƶ Senior Manager of Reproductive Health Advocacy

During our collective COVID shutdown we were reminded of the power of music to nurture and heal by the Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson.

This week, we mark the passing of a clarion voice for justice, a voice that united art and activism. A voice that ignited passion calling “.” A voice that co-founded the , and started — Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon died at the age of 81 on Tuesday morning — may she rest in peace and power.��

Much like , “one of the founders of social medicine” did, after recognizing “poverty caused disease as much as germs” and understanding “both the politician and the physician had a moral obligation to heal society,” by calling mid-19th-century physicians to advocate for public health practices and serve as “attorney for the poor,” recognized

“artists really had a big role to play in challenging our society and culture
to transform itself and to do better.”��

Dr. Reagon talked with Democracy Now over the years about the . She spoke eloquently about the ; and about how, as we saw with the , shared song can nurture and unite people with different life experiences in action.��

She had a deep appreciation of the value of young people in creating a better future in our shared world, along with a special understanding of how we stand on the shoulders of giants who’ve come before. If you are not already familiar with the inspirational words and music of Sweet Honey and the Rock I invite you to explore these historic interviews – Legendary Civil Rights Singers and .

As we face the realities of challenges presented by our current profits before people (patients and providers) healthcare non-system in the United States – including our outrageously high and growing rate of maternal mortality – the need for nurturing, healing and connections across our communities is clear. ��Lifting voices in the call for a high-quality, affordable and sustainable healthcare system that ensures access and reproductive freedom and justice for all is essential – together we can make a difference!����

The words of set beautifully in song by Dr. Reagon in are a keen reminder:��

We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers’ sons

That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people
Passing on to others that which was passed on to me

To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
And if I can but shed some light as they carry us through the gale

The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hands of the young, who dare to run against the storm

Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me
I need to be one in the number as we stand against tyranny

Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot, I’ve come to realize
That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives

I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard
At times I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word

We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

###

*Note: an excerpt of this Spotlight is included in Ģ����Ƶ Reproductive Health Project eNews #25: , July 20, 2024
Find the current and past issues in the Ģ����Ƶ Repro eNews Archive.

Explore the Ģ����Ƶ Reproductive Health Project
Find news, tips, tools, opportunities�� & more!

for Ģ����Ƶ Repro Project Updates

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Introducing Ashish Chettimada, a remarkable young visionary hailing from Waterloo, Ontario. Ashish’s dedication to innovative healthcare solutions is nothing short of inspiring. As a student enrolled in the esteemed International Baccalaureate program at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, Ashish exemplifies the qualities of a future leader in medicine.

From an early age, Ashish has demonstrated a profound interest in the intricate intersection of human biology and technology. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and his unwavering commitment to solving healthcare challenges stand as a testament to his exceptional character and foresight.

At the Ģ����Ƶ (Ģ����Ƶ), we recognize the immense value of nurturing young talents like Ashish. Our mission is to foster future physician leaders who not only identify pressing healthcare issues but also possess the creativity and determination to devise innovative solutions. Ashish embodies this spirit wholeheartedly, serving as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring healthcare professionals worldwide.

Ģ����Ƶ stands firmly behind the belief that healthcare should be equitable and accessible to all. We are committed to advocating for policies and initiatives that promote universal healthcare coverage and address disparities in healthcare access. Ashish’s work on , a diagnostic and , aligns perfectly with this mission. His project not only addresses a critical medical need but also showcases his commitment to making healthcare more accessible to those in need.

Through initiatives like ReAlign, Ashish demonstrates how innovative solutions can help bridge gaps in healthcare access and improve outcomes for marginalized communities. His dedication to using technology for social good embodies Ģ����Ƶ’s core values of equity, inclusivity, and compassion.

As we celebrate Ashish’s accomplishments, let us also reaffirm our commitment to creating a healthcare system that works for everyone. At Ģ����Ƶ, we believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right, and we will continue to support young leaders like Ashish who share our vision of a healthier, more equitable world. Meet Ashish at convention in DC from May 30-June 1, 2024!

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Aligned with the “Principles Regarding War and Military Action” in our Preamble, Purposes, and Principles (PPP) document, Ģ����Ƶ vehemently “opposes an embargo of food, medicine, or medical supplies and equipment to any nation.” Our commitment extends to advocating for “a more humane approach to war and the resolution of international crises.” Ģ����Ƶ was present at American Public Health Association’s (APHA) annual meeting and we align with their Governing Council wholeheartedly and support an immediate ceasefire. We call on President Biden and Congress to take prompt action, emphasizing the imperative de-escalation of hostilities and for the restoration of basic needs for civilians.��

At Ģ����Ƶ, we have an unwavering commitment to a world where healthcare transcends borders, ensuring accessibility for all, especially in times of conflict. Ģ����Ƶ implores a resolute response from the U.S. government, stressing the urgency of humanitarian aid and restoration of basic necessities to ease the suffering for civilians amid this crisis.��

We urge all Ģ����Ƶ members to please use this to reach out to your Congress members and demand a ceasefire now.��

References:��

1. Women and newborns bearing the brunt of the conflict in Gaza, UN agencies warn (no date) World Health Organization. Available at:
2. Ruby Mellen, A.G. (2023) Gaza reports more than 11,100 killed. that’s one out of every 200 people., The Washington Post. Available at:
3. Kingsley, P. (2023) Israel-hamas war: 24 hostages return to Israel as 39 Palestinians are freed under truce, The New York Times. Available at:

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I’ve been studying the American healthcare system for roughly ten years. I majored in Public Health with a focus in Health Policy in graduate school before starting Medical School last year. My years of education came in handy when I realized I couldn’t afford the mandatory health insurance required to be an enrolled medical student by my institution. Enter Medicaid. I used my graduate education to stumble my way through an application for Medicaid. To be honest, I struggled to fill it out. The irony of that is not lost on me. Nevertheless, I qualified and received Medicaid while in medical school.�� Sunday, July 30th marks 57 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill that led to both Medicaid and Medicare. Drawing from my recent personal experience, I have chosen to honor this milestone by delving deeper into the current state of the American health insurance system. The verdict: while there have been improvements, our healthcare system still falls far short of achieving true equity.

Medicare: A Lifeline for the Elderly

With the passage of the Social Security Act of 1965, the “original Medicare program”, comprising Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance), was set into motion. As the first federal health insurance program of its kind in the United States, it primarily served elderly individuals that were aged 65 and over. Of course, Congress has made changes over the years to expand eligibility and coverage for those disabled, people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or kidney transplant, and people 65 or older that select Medicare coverage. More benefits, such as prescription drug coverage, have also been incorporated. This resulted in roughly , as of March 2023.

The importance of Medicare cannot be overstated. Seriously. Just imagine what our, already dysfunctional, healthcare system would look like if we had over 65 million elderly Americans without comprehensive coverage. Not only would it have negative health implications for many of our loved ones, but it would also lead to a surge in individuals who are unable to afford essential medical treatment. After all, Medicare serves as a safety net for seniors, protecting them from financial ruin and ensuring they have at least some access to much needed medical care.��

Medicaid: A Shield for Low-Income and Disabled Individuals

Medicaid, also created under the Social Security Act, is a joint federal and state program designed to offer healthcare coverage to those who need it most. When first introduced, Medicaid gave medical insurance to individuals getting cash assistance. Today, a significantly larger group is covered under Medicaid which includes low-income families, pregnant women, people of all ages with disabilities, and people who need long-term care. Although not all 50 states have expanded Medicaid with the Affordable Care Act, there’s a wide variation in the services offered.��

Regardless, the significance of Medicaid lies in its ability to provide healthcare coverage to vulnerable populations who would otherwise struggle to afford essential medical services, like myself. For many low-income families, Medicaid is a lifeline that ensures access to at least the bare minimum of services like primary care, preventive services, and treatment of chronic conditions. and is an important source of insurance coverage especially for pregnant people and children in our country.��

Caution: More is Needed��

The stark reality is that improving access to healthcare in the United States of America has been a long, arduous, and sometimes frustrating process. While the statistics I’ve highlighted are significant, it’s critical to note that these figures do not imply complete insurance coverage for all people in the United States. Medicare and Medicaid have been pivotal in safeguarding the health and well-being of millions of Americans, yet additional measures are imperative. It’s time we all endorse the Medicare for All model. Yes, I am talking about universal access to quality, affordable healthcare, an idea that�� the Ģ����Ƶ (Ģ����Ƶ) has supported since its inception!

By removing private insurance plan restrictions and providing coverage for all residents, equal access to essential medical services would be guaranteed. The Medicare for All model would eliminate financial barriers to care and would enable broader implementation of preventative measures, thus reducing chronic diseases. Studies have shown that compared to the United States. By promoting regular check-ups, early detection of illnesses, and preventive care, Medicare for All can enhance health outcomes and increase life-expectancy. In addition, Medicare for All can help eliminate the perpetuation of disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Imagine a world where everyone has a right to healthcare, regardless of how much they make, what color their skin is, or what state they call home. This is a win for public health and a world I, along with Ģ����Ƶ, want to build!

The current American healthcare system is notorious for its exorbitant costs, leading to financial strain for both individuals and the government. Our track record in delivering cost-effective care is nothing short of dismal. Adopting Medicare for All has the potential to streamline administrative expenses, reduce bureaucracy, and consolidate healthcare spending, resulting in substantial cost savings via enhanced bargaining power with pharmaceutical companies and medical providers.��

The key takeaways are Medicare for All saves money, improves overall health outcomes, and greatly reduces healthcare disparities. As a future physician, I wholeheartedly endorse Medicare for All and strive to promote a healthier and more equitable society. As a strong advocate for evidence-based medicine, I firmly believe that the time has come to make significant improvements in our healthcare system. It is time for Medicare for All!��

Call to Action

Stand with Ģ����Ƶ and passionate future physicians supporting and , the Medicare for All bills that have been introduced to congress. Let’s use our voices to speak out about what patients need and hold our elected officials accountable.��

Find out who your legislators are . Adapt the , and let your law-makers know that you support Medicare for All and they should, too!��

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Just when you thought Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis couldn’t get any worse, he’s supporting the Florida State Board of Education’s new education standards which include teaching K-12 students that slavery had “benefits” for enslaved people. DeSantis, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, and state board of education member MaryLynn Magar believe it is appropriate to teach our children, our future generations, that enslaved people

This concerning and disturbing display of historical revisionism, not only violates any sort of decency standard, but also amounts to a distressing act of white-washing. To be clear, this is not stemming from ignorance, but from a willful, malicious attempt to push an agenda of white supremacy and anti-Black racism. This is also a clear demonstration of the fascist desire to control all aspects of an educational system in order to advance the narratives (propaganda) that facilitate fascist control over all aspects of a society.��

While DeSantis signed the last year, seemingly aiming to protect the fragile egos of a subset of , he has blatantly disregarded the deep harm caused by promoting a narrative in our educational system that downplays the historical suffering endured by Black people under slavery, and the on-going harm caused to Black people in a society that continues to operate under white supremacist anti-Black racism and anti-Indigeneity. He along with his like-minded white supremacist, fascist “friends” are directly hindering the genuine progress of our country and perpetuating a harmful narrative that dismisses the impact of systemic racism and denies the lived experiences of marginalized communities.��

DeSantis is running a distant second to Trump in national polling for the Republican presidential nomination, and his desperation has only made him more eager to prove himself to the MAGA supporters as a more destructive, more extreme bigot worthy of their adoration. This is what he aims to do by defending a racist curriculum stating that “scholars” put together this “academic standard” (read as “manipulative narrative” – or, to put it more directly, propaganda). Under the guise of “educational reform” this is actually a direct attack against educational truth and truthfulness; under the cloak of “teaching history” this is actually a direct attempt to grab total power to control the narrative that shapes the present and future reality. It is exceedingly important to keep in our focus all the ways that fascist movements seek to control what historical narratives are allowed to be told, and how they are told () in order to control what kind of future reality is allowed to unfold. For this reason, we cannot just critique this so-called reform – and those who support it – as merely foolish and misguided; It is manipulative, nefarious, and very, very dangerous. As an organization representing tens of thousands of future physicians – current students who have committed to life-long learning – the Ģ����Ƶ (Ģ����Ƶ) will�� not stand for this.��

At Ģ����Ƶ we are ethically and morally committed to pushing back against those who engage in whitewashing history. We are committed to truth, honesty, and integrity in education. We are unwavering in our dedication to confront uncomfortable truths of the past, including abhorrent realities of slavery and its devastating impact on the lives of millions of people even to this present moment. We empower our members to be compassionate advocates for justice. If you want to learn the truth of our history and fight against fascist political operators such as Governor DeSantis and his propagandist operatives in agencies like the Florida Board of Education, join us to be a real scholar.�� Enroll in one of the Ģ����Ƶ Scholars Programs for the 2023-24 academic year which include Racism in Medicine, Transgender Health, Sexual Health, Health Justice, and Premedical program, just to name a few. The Fall Scholars Programs begin in September, and registration is open! Knowledge is power, and armed with the truth, we have the strength to combat those who attempt to create false histories in order to invert what people will know and accept as “truth” in the present and in the future.��

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Loss of the Federal Right to Abortion Care at the 1-year Mark
Virginia: The Final Bastion of Bodily Autonomy in the South

By Elissa Cleland, Ģ����Ƶ Gender & Sexuality Chair and rising MS2 at Eastern Virginia Medical School

As a Virginia resident all of my life, I am well aware of the polarized cultural and political climate of my home state. In my hometown, confederate flags were the backdrop to my first twelve years of education. As I engaged with my community, I also became aware of the ubiquitous challenges far too many Virginians face in accessing healthcare regardless of political district. I’ve witnessed family, community members, neighbors, and caring physicians struggle to overcome barriers to get and give much needed healthcare. Wanting to remedy these struggles, both physical and systemic, is what drives my passion to become a physician.��

I was excited to foster and feed my passion for advocacy when I learned that my values aligned with Ģ����Ƶ’s foundational belief that everyone has a right to quality, affordable health care, and their long-time commitment to establishing a health care system that puts people above profits. During my time with Ģ����Ƶ, I have connected with like-minded future physicians that have reignited my hope for a generation of doctors that can dismantle systemic barriers blocking far too many from care they need to live healthy lives. Through Ģ����Ƶ, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of how policy-makers are often influenced by loud special interest extremist groups whose aim is to control healthcare in accordance with their rightwing ideology. Unfortunately, some legislators prioritize these groups rather than listen to the physicians and healthcare professionals who advocate with science and experience.

I have been a spectator to these political games in my beloved home state. Every election, I’ve relied on the liberal Northern Virginia districts to keep, protect, and grow progressive policies that would help more people access needed care. However, due to the conservative southern and rural districts like my own, we have mixed representation at the state level; Democrats control our state senate, Republicans control the House side of our state legislature, and Glenn Youngkin, a conservative Republican, won the seat for Virginia state governor in 2021.

This reality, coupled with the Supreme Court decision to overturn our federal right to abortion care, leaves me concerned that Virginia legislators will fail to uphold state policies that affirm patient rights to reproductive freedom and protect physicians who provide care to these patients. In particular, Governor Youngkin’s previously proposed 15-week abortion bill, VA HB 2278, makes me apprehensive for the future of Virginia as a safe haven for Southern abortion seekers and abortion providers. This extremist bill not only restricted abortion to rare cases of rape and incest, but also criminalized physicians with jail time up to 10 years for providing abortion care to patients in need. VA HB 2278 also had , many of which are not detected until after 15 weeks gestation. When discussing his extreme ban, Youngkin claimed his is what got him elected. However, VA HB 2278 was rejected by a by both Democrats and a Republican in January. Despite its failure, Youngkin has promised to continue to push for his 15-week abortion ban even though for any or most reasons. Therefore, such as VA HB 2278 backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Sen. Steve Newman not only violate the individual rights of the person with a uterus but also the will of the Virginia constituency.

Reproductive justice is an intersectional issue that should not be a geographical or financial privilege reserved for those wealthy enough to travel to another pro-abortion state. In fact, Virginia is one of the states to which abortion seekers travel since the Dobbs Decision a year ago. Therefore, as a Virginian, I want to highlight how disastrous the impact of renewing Gov. Youngkin’s ban will be. With West Virginia completely banning abortion and the new 6-week ban in North Carolina, Southern abortion seekers are flocking to Virginia for reproductive care. Other than Maryland, Virginia is the least restrictive state below the Mason Dixon line. According to Whole Women’s Health Clinic in Virginia, from around the country have contacted them seeking an abortion. If Virginia falls, there will be ramifications that reverberate throughout the nation.��

On this the 1-year mark of the overturning of Roe v Wade, Ģ����Ƶ reaffirms that abortion is part of normal healthcare and that all people who can get pregnant have a right to decide if, when, how, and where to give birth. Yet, Virginia is not the only battleground state for reproductive justice. States across the country are passing laws that ban abortion care entirely or restrict if and how physicians can provide care to patients in need.��

14 states now have near total abortion care bans with several more bans now working their way through the courts. ��

78 MILLION Americans live in states that have banned abortion, and millions more live in states where it’s heavily restricted.

worsen state outcomes and increase maternal mortality – 62% higher maternal death rates than in states where abortion care is accessible ().

I would be remiss if I did not center how abortion bans disproportionately affect and people in America. Transgender, LGBTQ nonbinary adults, and disabled persons also are deeply impacted by abortion bans and harmful biases, along with all those who face economic insecurity regardless of their race or how they identify (). These medically marginalized groups will shoulder the greatest burden as the bans take effect.

Therefore, it is imperative that we in Virginia stave off Youngkin’s sexist, racist, and heteropatriarchal abortion ban, or all Southern people in need of abortion care will suffer. With abortion clinics across the state already operating at maximum capacity, the harsher restrictions of neighboring states have pushed non-Virginians to our clinics and will only increase wait times for all people in need of abortion care in Virginia. Thus, Youngkin’s proposal to shorten the window for an abortion as wait times increase is a poorly disguised ploy to eradicate a necessary and evidence-based practice completely. Having already been rejected once, Youngkin has promised to rekindle his efforts this upcoming session to pass his fascist ban.

Abortion is a human right. To limit the choice of a person with a uterus of how and when to have a child is an infringement upon personal freedoms. In a country founded on the idea of freedom, it is ironic that the party that has wrapped itself in the American flag is the perpetrators of the greatest violation. Regardless of whatever moral right they feel to legislate abortion, many Republicans (i.e. Youngkin) are not doctors and to restrict a practice that is the standard of care without having received a medical education is pure hubris. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), the foremost professional organization that produces practice guidelines for healthcare professionals, upholds that abortion is an essential component of healthcare. Unsafe, illegal abortions account for around around the world each year. If Gov. Youngkin and the ultra-conservative state law-makers who support this bill truly wanted to reduce the number of abortions and not just control women’s bodies, they would support removing obstacles to abortion as. Abortions have been common practice in America and puritanical abortion bans like VA HB 2278 won’t stop them – making abortion illegal does not stop abortions.��

CALL TO ACTION

Fortunately, Ģ����Ƶ has a wide base of passionate future physicians that will stand against abortion bans like those under consideration now in Virginia and many other states. We can use our voices to speak out about what patients need and hold our elected officials accountable.��

If you are a Virginia resident, contact your , ��and ��to let them know you support reproductive freedom and want abortion care access and providers protected in Virginia (find out who your VA state legislators are ).��

for an email template you are welcome to adapt and use to let your law-makers know that you do not support and do not want abortion bans in Virginia.��

If you are NOT a Virginia resident, to learn if your state legislators are taking action to ban or protect abortion care. And, consider adapting the email template below if your state is considering abortion bans (email bmartin@amsa.org for assistance).

Join Ģ����Ƶ members in VA and from states across the country in sending big THANK YOUs to state legislators who are members of the – a network of over 900 state legislators across the country who champion reproductive health, rights, and justice. Find your state legislators .

Stay up-to-date on the evolving political landscape of reproductive justice by keeping up with the page and our Gender & Sexuality Action Committee page.��

COMING FALL 2023!

Skill-building action sessions designed to help future physicians across the U.S. develop and use their voices to effectively advocate for reproductive health and freedom by:

• Engaging state, federal and institutional policy-makers
• Writing Letters-to-the-Editor, Op-Eds, and blog posts
• Using social media to share info and mobilize for action, and more…����

– those on this list will receive priority notification when registration opportunities open.

The post Loss of the Federal Right to Abortion Care at the 1-year Mark – Virginia: The Final Bastion of Bodily Autonomy in the South appeared first on Ģ����Ƶ.

Better Health & Healthcare One Vote Away!

Join Call for U.S. Senate Yes Vote on Build Back Better Act

Imagine you live in a nation:��

• where all with diabetes could get their insulin for $35 a month, and Rx companies are required to negotiate discounts
• that ensured all their children have health coverage without gaps
• where seniors and people with disabilities could get high quality care and help to stay in their homes��
• where home health workers were paid a living wage, and Medicare covered seniors hearing care��
• where the maternal mortality rate is dropping, rather than rising at an unacceptable rate
• that makes the critical investments needed to improve maternal health, target racial health disparities, and advance birth equity��

What would your life and work as a physician be like if these imagingings were real?
What would you do to make these things real? What would you say to someone who had the power to deny, or make these things real?

Good News! The U.S. House just passed a bill that makes these things real
— it’s the Build Back Better Act!

Now, The Build Back Better Act is before the U.S. Senate and
we are only 1 vote away from President Biden signing it into law.��

Today, Ģ����Ƶ sent a letter to all U.S. Senators urging the Senate to vote on The Build Back Better Act before the end of the year, and to ensure the vital health care provisions incorporated by the House remain intact. As future physicians, we believe this legislation takes historic steps toward making healthcare more equitable, affordable, and sustainable. The time to pass The Build Back Better Act is here — our patients, our families, our colleagues, and communities can not, and should not, wait longer.��

It’s time to make historic investments in our people, our nation, and our future.��

It’s time to vote YES on The Build Back Better Act!

Please join us in action and lift your voice to your own U.S. Senators Today!

Call Your U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121

(Capitol switchboard)
Don’t delay, voicemail can be left 24/7

along with their direct DC office phone numbers & official webpages

Find tips when calling Congress and a short call script here��

The post Better Health & Healthcare One Vote Away! appeared first on Ģ����Ƶ.