What’s at Stake for Women’s Health in this Election

With election results just around the corner, the outcome could significantly affect women’s reproductive health, and that’s no small matter. Right now, there’s a lot of confusion in some states about when and under what circumstances abortions are allowed. But it’s not just about abortion; access to birth control and essential medical care is also at stake.

Let’s take a look at the key issues on the ballot and how the two parties view them.

• Emergency Abortion Care under EMTALA
  After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Biden-Harris administration confirmed that abortions may be necessary for patients facing emergency medical conditions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). However, if a second Trump administration comes into power, they could interpret EMTALA differently or even dismantle it, which would pose a serious risk to reproductive health and access to emergency care for pregnant women.

Abortion, a Fundamental Right! | Get It Girl

• Medication Abortions
  In June, the Supreme Court made a unanimous decision to preserve access to mifepristone, which is used alongside misoprostol for medication abortions. A Trump administration could potentially reverse this decision or impose restrictions, raising concerns for many women.
• Contraception
  The Biden-Harris administration aims to strengthen access to contraception, while Trump hasn’t clearly stated his position on this issue. There are worries that a Trump administration might weaken Affordable Care Act policies that currently provide coverage for contraception, such as those offered by Planned Parenthood.

Common Ground
Interestingly, both Republicans and Democrats might agree on the need to improve maternal health in rural areas, where access to Labor and Delivery services can be quite limited. It’s surprising that, while there’s plenty of talk about making birth control more affordable, policymakers rarely mention funding for condoms.