Reproductive Health Care Access Initiative

After the overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, California reaffirmed its status as a reproductive freedom state. In its 2022-23 budget, the State of California appropriated $120 million to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to establish and administer five programs designed to support and expand abortion, abortion-related care and reproductive health services across the State. 

Clinical Infrastructure

The Clinical Infrastructure scholarship and loan repayment programs are intended to expand the number of health care providers offering abortion-related care and reproductive health services.

Reproductive Health Care funds are available through the HCAI loan repayment and scholarship programs listed below. Each program has a specific link where you can get more information and details on how to apply.

Funding Eligibility

HCAI opens application cycles for loan repayment, scholarship, and grant programs throughout the course of each year. Visit HCAI’s website for information about eligibility.

Program Name Eligible Professions or Education Programs Application Dates
Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship Program   Certified Nurse Practitioner
Certified Nurse Specialist
Physician Assistant 
Certified Nurse Midwife 
Pharmacist

Awards Announced:
December 2023

Next Cycle Anticipated:
August 2024 
Allied Healthcare Scholarship Program Licensed Midwife 
Doula 
Community Health Worker 
Medical Assistant
Pharmacy Technician 
Awards Announced:
December 2023

Next Cycle Anticipated:
August 2024
Behavioral Health Scholarship Program
Licensed Clinical Social Worker 
Associate Clinical Social Worker 
Licensed Psychologist 
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist  
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist    
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor   
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor 
Open:  April 9, 2024 
Close:  May 24, 2024 

Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment Program Registered Nurse 
Awards Announced:
September 2023

Next Cycle Anticipated:
May 2024 
Licensed Vocational Nursing Loan Repayment Program Licensed Vocational Nurse Awards Announced:
September 2023

Next Cycle Anticipated:
May 2024  
Licensed Mental Health Services  Provider Education Loan Repayment ProgramLicensed Clinical Social Worker 
Associate Clinical Social Worker 
Licensed Clinical Psychologist 
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist  
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist    
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor   
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor 
Awards Announced:
September 2023

Next Cycle Anticipated:
May 2024  
California State Loan Repayment ProgramCertified Nurse Practitioner 
Certified Nurse Midwife 
Licensed Clinical Psychologist  
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 
Licensed Psychologist 
Pharmacist 
Physician 
Physician Assistant 
Awards Announced:
January 2024

Next Cycle Anticipated:
July 2024 
Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment Program PhysicianAwards Announced:
September 2023

Next Cycle Anticipated:
May 2024  

Capital Infrastructure

The Capital Infrastructure grant program aims to enhance the physical and digital security infrastructure for health care facilities and reproductive health care practitioners who provide abortion-related care and reproductive health services in California.

HCAI partnered with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to implement this grant program. The first Request for Proposal (RFP) resulted in grants totaling $8.2 million to 21 health care facilities and individual providers offering abortion care and reproductive health services. HCAI and Cal OES anticipate the release of another RFP in Q1 2024.

Resources

For More Information

Uncompensated Care Fund and Abortion Practical Support Fund

HCAI has contracted with Essential Access Health (Essential Access) to administer the Uncompensated Care and Abortion Practical Support Funds. Essential Access has a long history of supporting individuals who face barriers in accessing reproductive health services. Essential Access is responsible for distributing $60 million in grants to expand access to abortions, abortion-related services, and general reproductive health care.

  • The Uncompensated Care Fund provides grants to health care providers who participate in the Medi-Cal program and who deliver abortion and abortion-related care to individuals without coverage for such services and with an income below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
  • The Abortion Practical Support Fund provides grants to non-profit organizations to help individuals seeking abortion care with the supports necessary to access abortion-related care. Practical support can include travel, lodging, childcare, food, and other ancillary supports.

In July 2023, Essential Access announced Uncompensated Care grants totaling $20.7 million to 12 health care providers and Abortion Practical Support grants totaling $5 million to 16 nonprofit organizations.

HCAI and Essential Access anticipate releasing another RFP for each fund in April 2024.

Resources

California Reproductive Health Service Corps

The Reproductive Health Service Corps (“Corps”) will recruit, train, retain, and financially support a diverse workforce of health care professionals who commit to providing reproductive health services, including abortion care, for at least three years. 

HCAI has partnered with Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare (TEACH) and Birth Control Pharmacist to administer the Reproductive Health Service Corps (RHSC). The program will address critical gaps in access to abortion care, diversify the reproductive health care workforce, and empower pharmacists to provide comprehensive reproductive health services.

Resources

Subscribe

Join the Reproductive Health Programs Update mailing list by clicking below to Subscribe to program announcements. Scroll down to Healthcare Workforce and select Reproductive Health Access Programs to receive program announcements.