What You Need To Know About Women’s Healthcare In The U.S.

A woman’s health is the foundation of her well-being and ability to support herself, her family, workplace, and community. Access to healthcare, resources, and relevant information is essential to maintaining this foundation.

In recent months, decisions at the federal and state levels have impacted women’s healthcare in the United States. From healthcare access to reproductive rights and medical research, these shifts mean that how and where women receive care is changing.

The best way to take care of yourself is to stay informed about policy changes and what they mean for women. Read on for several important developments.

Medicaid is a popular healthcare program, with 19% of women ages 19-64 enrolled in 2023. The program covers almost half of all births and provides prenatal care, 12 months of postpartum care, vaccines, mental health services, and long-term care. 

Despite the number of people who rely on it for healthcare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are facing federal rollbacks. These rollbacks could leave thousands of women without access to pregnancy care, cancer screenings, family planning, and diagnostic testing. 

At the same time, the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case about Medicaid paying for healthcare at clinics that provide abortions. If upheld, the ruling will allow states to prevent providers like Planned Parenthood from getting paid with Medicaid funds. This would leave thousands of low-income women without access to the many health care services these providers offer.

As part of ending federal DEI initiatives, the government is expected to pause about $120 million in grant funding for organizations that provide family planning services. Women could lose access to services, including pregnancy testing, birth control, infertility services, and STI treatment.

The reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 signaled a shift in women’s reproductive rights, eliminating federal protections and allowing states to regulate abortion access. Most recently, Louisiana has pursued a criminal case against a New York doctor for mailing abortion pills to Louisiana. This is the first case of its kind and will test the strength of shield laws several states have in place to protect telehealth providers. 

Texas is considering a bill that would make tech companies, nonprofits, payment processors, and websites sharing abortion pill information civilly liable for abortion pill distribution and the “wrongful death of an unborn child.” It would also make it a felony to assist with out-of-state abortion travel, allowing biological fathers to pursue civil lawsuits. If the bill passes, it could serve as a model for other states to follow.

Executive Order 14182 repealed Biden-era orders meant to protect access to contraception and abortion. The order does not reverse the policies but signals that they are not a priority and will not be enforced. This includes emergency abortion care, Medicaid coverage for out-of-state abortion travel, public education about access to reproductive health care, and research on maternal health outcomes. 

Women have been historically underrepresented in medical research, with inclusion not required until 1993. However, federal funding cuts and policy changes are also affecting medical research.

The executive order regarding federal DEI initiatives led the FDA to remove guidelines on clinical trial diversity. It also discouraged the use of words, including female, pregnant person, and gender in websites, resources, and research grant applications. This will limit studies on women-specific research such as endometriosis, menopause, and pregnancy. It will also reduce the reliability of data on conditions like heart disease, which have sex-specific differences. Funding cuts also mean delays in medical breakthroughs and the release of new treatment options.

With so many policy changes affecting women’s health, staying informed is necessary to maintain your access to care and resources.