New York Attorney General Fights to Protect Reproductive Health Care Funding

Strategic Insights -

New York Attorney General Letitia James, co-leading a coalition of 24 attorneys general, continues her fight to safeguard the health care and reproductive rights of patients across the nation. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the case Ohio v. Becerra, opposing the plaintiffs' efforts to halt implementation of the new Title X rule, which removes harmful restrictions and will result in the distribution of Title X funds to a greater number of family planning and related preventive health service providers. The new rule will expand access to safe and affordable reproductive health care, particularly for underserved communities, and ensure that they can access the care they need.

Key Takeaways:

  • The coalition of 24 attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, filed an amicus brief in the case Ohio v. Becerra, opposing the plaintiffs' efforts to halt implementation of the new Title X rule.
  • The new Title X rule, issued in 2021, removes harmful restrictions from the 2019 Trump Administration rule and will allow Title X funds to go to clinics that do not physically separate non-abortion and abortion services.
  • The 2021 rule broadens the scope of federal grants under Title X, eliminating requirements that made it difficult for providers to participate in the program.
  • The brief argues for the court to reject a request by a group of plaintiff states for a preliminary injunction of the 2021 rule, which would return to the 2019 Trump Administration rule that caused a dramatic loss of Title X providers and a substantial decrease in patient visits and health care services provided.
  • The 2021 HHS rule allows lost providers to reenter the Title X program and promotes health equity by emphasizing efforts to reach underserved communities.
  • Attorney General James has previously fought to protect Title X funding, co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in challenging the Trump Administration's Title X family planning rule in 2019, and later filing an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought by the city of Baltimore against the Trump Administration's Title X rule.

Statistics:

  • 24 attorneys general co-led by New York Attorney General Letitia James filed an amicus brief in the case Ohio v. Becerra.
  • 2021: The new Title X rule was issued, broadening the scope of federal grants under Title X and eliminating the harmful provisions of the 2019 Trump Administration rule.
  • 2019: 21 attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, co-led a coalition to challenge the Trump Administration's Title X family planning rule.
  • 2020: 21 attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, co-led a coalition to file an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought by the city of Baltimore against the Trump Administration's Title X rule.
  • 2021: 23 attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, co-led a coalition to send a comment letter to HHS, applauding the agency's proposed rule to undo the harmful, Trump-era Title X gag rule.

Sources:

  • [New York Attorney General's Office]
  • [Ohio v. Becerra case]
  • [US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)]