California governor signs new laws to protect abortion and reproductive rights

(FOX40.COM) – In the most recent events, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed multiple bills into law, stating they will protect abortion rights and reproductive health care all over.

“California stands for a woman’s right to choose,” Newsom said. “I’m proud to sign these bills to protect access to essential health care and shield patients and health care providers in the face of amplified attacks on the fundamental right to reproductive freedom.”

Assembly Bill 50, “The Equity in Birth Control,” was authored by Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) and was signed by Newsom. Per supporters, they are going to make the over-the-counter birth control medication that includes the nation’s first-ever FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control drug, Opill, easier to access.

“We want to make sure people have easy access to critical medication,” said Bonta.

On Monday, most people covered by private insurance can get Opill at a pharmacy without a prescription or out-of-pocket costs. However, that’s not the case for the millions of low-income Californians on the publicly funded Medicaid programs.

Officials said to have the drug covered, people have to go through the same process required of them when obtaining a prescription, only-contracedptive which includes the use of a patient with a specially trained pharmacist, including filling out a self-screening questionnaire; however, AB50 is set to change that.

“13.5 million Californians are on Medi-Cal. About half of those people are actually women or birthing people who might need to be able to have birth control accessible to them, Bonta said. “So given the fact that the federal government has made such drastic cuts in both Medi-Cal and in reproductive health care, it’s even more critical right now that we have the ability to provide this basic need.”

On top of recent bill signing, Newsom signed a bill allowing health care providers to prescribe abortion medication anonymously, requiring state-regulated health plans to cover the abortion pill Mifepristone regardless of federal approval status.

Authorities said the bill is set to increase legal actions that protect abortion providers.

The California Family Law came out against the bills that were signed and said the following statement.

“It shields reckless practices and removes any last shred of oversight, precaution, or transparency.”

Jodie Hicks, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood Afiliates of California, stated that in California, access to abortion and reproductive health care “hangs in the balance.”

President Trump’s Administration and Republican members of Congress continue to attack reproductive health care access on all fronts, including ongoing threats to medication abortion and already successfully defunding all 109 Planned Parenthood health centers in California. And we know they won’t stop there,” Hicks said.