In 2006, Massachusetts passed legislation aimed at improving access to health care by mandating all residents have health insurance by July 2007. NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is committed to ensuring that the implementation of this groundbreaking law increases access to reproductive health care for the women and men of Massachusetts.

 

 

NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is a founding member of an initiative to prevent unplanned pregnancy and promote sexual health in the Commonwealth called Reproductive Empowerment and Decision Making for Young Adults (REaDY).

 

We are collaborating with a coalition of Massachusetts health service providers, advocates, and researchers on this unique, statewide project to reduce unplanned pregnancy among young adults in the wake of health care reform in the Commonwealth.

 

 

 

In March 2009, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts raised the alarm when Caritas Christi Health Care (a Catholic-affiliated provider network) announced plans to become part owner of a new, state-subsidized health plan. We were concerned about Caritas's involvement because of the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion and birth control – which are covered services for low-income residents.

 

With the support of our members, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts was able to protect these essential reproductive health services. We urged the Commonwealth Connector Board (which oversees these health plans) to carefully evaluate the joint venture to ensure there would be full disclosure and timely provision of health care – even when Caritas providers were unwilling or unable to offer these services directly. And we secured pledges from members of the Connector Board to be a partner in monitoring the roll out and implementation of the plan.

 

Despite these careful negotiations, Cardinal O'Malley was still not satisfied. In June, he announced that the plan still represented too much entanglement between Catholic hospitals and reproductive healthcare providers. And Caritas pulled out of the joint venture – just days before it was scheduled to go into effect.