Securing Access to Reproductive and Other Healthcare Services

This executive order directs HHS to take further steps to protect access to reproductive healthcare after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. It orders HHS to consider actions including Medicaid coverage for out-of-state travel for medical care, strengthen anti-discrimination enforcement against healthcare providers, and improve federal data collection on maternal health outcomes. The order responds to reports of patients being denied emergency care and medications due to state abortion restrictions.

Federal Register Open PDF 87 FR 49505

Key directives

HHS shall consider actions to advance access to reproductive healthcare services through Medicaid for patients traveling across State lines for medical care
HHS shall consider all appropriate actions to advance prompt understanding of and compliance with Federal non-discrimination laws by healthcare providers receiving Federal financial assistance
HHS shall evaluate adequacy of research, data collection, and data analysis at NIH, CDC, and other HHS components on reproductive healthcare effects on maternal health outcomes
HHS shall take appropriate actions to improve data collection efforts following evaluation

Who is ordered

Secretary of HHS · Department of Health and Human Services

Timeline

Immediate

HHS directed to consider Medicaid actions for out-of-state care
HHS directed to advance compliance with federal non-discrimination laws
HHS directed to evaluate adequacy of reproductive health data collection

Near term (90d)

Potential issuance of additional guidance on non-discrimination obligations
Potential technical assistance and convening of healthcare providers
Potential actions to improve data collection efforts

Long term

Potential structural changes to Medicaid coverage for interstate medical travel
Improved federal data on maternal health outcomes and reproductive healthcare access
Ongoing enforcement of civil rights protections in healthcare settings

Risks & tensions

All directives use 'shall consider' rather than mandating specific actions, creating implementation uncertainty
Medicaid expansion for out-of-state travel may face legal and political obstacles from states opposing abortion access
Non-discrimination enforcement relies on existing statutory frameworks (Rehabilitation Act, ACA Section 1557) rather than creating new authority
Potential conflict with state laws restricting abortion may lead to litigation over federal preemption
Data collection improvements depend on appropriations and HHS prioritization, per Sec. 6(b)