- In a KFF survey of 569 board-certified OB-GYNs across the U.S., 68 percent say the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade has worsened pregnancy-related medical emergencies, while 64 percent report that the ruling has worsened pregnancy-related mortality. The poll reveals that the Dobbs ruling affected maternal mortality and how pregnancy-related medical emergencies are managed, precipitated a rise in requests for sterilization, and has done much more than restrict abortion access. Many OBGYNs said it has also made their jobs more difficult and legally perilous than before while leading to worse outcomes for patients. (Article here)
- A federal judge struck down Florida’s prohibition on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care, the second decision to upend restrictions put into place at the urging of Gov. Ron DeSantis. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle pointed out that Florida’s main health care agency had previously signed off on having Medicaid cover certain gender-affirming care treatments several years ago. But then the state conducted a new analysis that he called “a biased effort to justify a predetermined outcome, not a fair analysis of the evidence.” He also said that the Agency for Health Care Administration “conducted a well-choreographed public hearing that was an effort not to gather facts but to support the predetermined outcome.” (Articles here and here)
June 22, 2023
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