Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Statement from state Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes on Medicaid coverage of abortion care in Pennsylvania

Statement from state Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes on Medicaid coverage of abortion care in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    July 24, 2026 | 3:28 PM

State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes today made the following statement regarding Medicaid coverage of abortion care in Pennsylvania.

"For the first time since the 1970s, Medicaid now covers abortion care, ensuring that a woman's ability to access essential healthcare is no longer determined by their income.

"This is a monumental step and watershed moment toward fulfilling the promise of equal protection under the Pennsylvania Constitution. For over 40 years, the state's discriminatory Medicaid funding ban forced low-income Pennsylvanians, particularly Black women, working families, and marginalized communities, to carry pregnancies against their will simply because they could not afford abortion care. That injustice has caused immeasurable harm and denied people the fundamental right to make their own healthcare decisions.

"The Commonwealth Court's decision allows this long-overdue coverage to take effect while the appeal to the case proceeds before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Patients enrolled in Medicaid can now access abortion care as part of their healthcare coverage, removing a significant economic barrier that has existed for decades.

"Reproductive justice means ensuring every person has the right to bodily autonomy, to decide if, when and how to have children, and to raise their families in safe and healthy communities. Healthcare should never depend on a person's income, ZIP code, or the political climate.

"While we celebrate this milestone, our work is not yet done. The state attorney general's appeal continues, and we must remain committed to defending the constitutional rights affirmed by the Commonwealth Court. I will continue working alongside my legislative colleagues, advocates, healthcare providers, patients, and community leaders to ensure that every Pennsylvanian can exercise their reproductive freedom without political interference or economic coercion.

"Abortion is healthcare. Reproductive autonomy is a constitutional right. This landmark legal victory brings Pennsylvania closer to a future where every person can access the care they need with dignity and respect."

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CONTACT: Molly Peters
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: mpeters@pahouse.net