Delaware County Democratic Party

The anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision is observed every year on June 24. This landmark Supreme Court ruling, issued on June 24, 2022, overturned Roe v. Wade and took away a woman's right to choose including the right to receive health care if a pregnancy became dangerous. The consequences have been dire.

Abortion access remains restricted in 41 states, including 13 with total bans. While medications and telehealth have helped preserve access for many, the consequences of Dobbs extend far beyond abortion itself.

States with abortion bans are experiencing growing shortages of OB-GYNs and other healthcare providers, creating healthcare and maternity care deserts that affect entire communities. More than 5 million women now live in areas with limited or no maternity care, while maternal and infant mortality rates continue to rise—especially for Black mothers and infants.

This is about more than reproductive healthcare. It's about access to medical care, the ability to attract and retain healthcare professionals, and the health and well-being of families and communities. Four years later, the impact of Dobbs continues to ripple across our healthcare system and our lives.

Here in Pennsylvania, these effects are felt in a different but deeply connected way. As more patients travel from states with restrictions to seek care here, our healthcare systems face increased demand at the same time communities like Delaware County are already dealing with hospital closures and provider shortages. That strain makes clear how fragile access to care can be.

At the same time, the Pennsylvania House has taken an important step forward with the passage of H.B. 1460, sponsored by our very own Representative Lisa Borowski. The legislation is designed to protect patients and communities by increasing oversight of healthcare mergers and acquisitions, prohibiting harmful private equity practices like sale-leasebacks, and requiring greater transparency from healthcare systems. It recognizes that healthcare is too essential to be treated as just another corporate asset.

In the end, these issues are connected. Whether it is reproductive healthcare, emergency services, or routine medical care, access should not depend on where you live or who controls the system. Every person deserves access to timely, safe, and medically appropriate care, regardless of where they live or the healthcare decisions they face.

PRESS CONFERENCE Protecting PA Health Services from Corporate Greed The Pennsylvania House passed legislation today that aims to preser...