How federal laws set the baseline for women’s health, safety, and access
Federal laws play a powerful role in shaping women’s rights in the United States. Even when enforcement and impact
As of January 2026 — Where you live often determines whether you get essential care. Deep Medicaid cuts and shrinking funding have strained clinics and hospitals. In rural counties, maternity wards, prenatal care, contraception access, and preventive services are disappearing. Restrictions on gender-affirming care have further narrowed provider availability, compounding access challenges for transgender women and girls. Healthcare access is increasingly uneven across the country.
Ohio’s expansion of Medicaid significantly increased health coverage across the state and helped stabilize access to care, including maternal
Oregon law continues to protect abortion access. As a result, the state has become a regional destination for care as
Editor’s note: This post was updated on Nov. 12, 2025, to reflect new developments in SNAP program payments. November
Federal laws play a powerful role in shaping women’s rights in the United States. Even when enforcement and impact
The word “protected” sounds definitive. In everyday language, it suggests something settled—a right that’s been secured and placed
When people hear the phrase “abortion is healthcare,” it’s often assumed to be a political statement. In medicine, it
The 2025 One Big Beautiful Big Act (H.R.1) introduces sweeping changes to the Medicaid program—stricter eligibility and
Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 18 in June 2025, a sweeping rural health law designed to keep small hospitals open
In 2024, Texas expanded postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage from 2 months to 12. The bipartisan bill (HB 12) aims
On January 24, 2025, the Justice Department announced it would enforce violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances