Governor Hochul Announces $10 Million Awarded in the First Round of Abortion Provider Support Fund

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $10 million awarded in the first round of the Abortion Provider Support Fund to 13 programs, covering 63 sites. The Governor also launched a series of reproductive health care roundtables, beginning with today's roundtable with downstate awardees, to discuss the needs and experiences of providers and how New York is confronting challenges and protecting access post-Roe. Applications for round two of funding will open next week. For the second phase, $15 million will be awarded to a broader array of programs, including independent clinics.

"Under my watch, New York will always be a safe harbor for those seeking reproductive health care, and I am committed to working with providers across the state to ensure they have the support and resources they need," Governor Hochul said. "We will continue to build on our nation-leading protections for abortion patients and providers to safeguard abortion access in our state."

"While the Supreme Court took away the rights of millions of women across the country, New York continues to provide a safe harbor for any woman who needs the comfort, safety and support to make her own choice," said Lieutenant Governor Delgado. "Today's commitment is further proof that New Yorkers won't sit back and let our rights be chiseled away. The Abortion Provider Support Fund will help women's reproductive health providers continue to make this option available to women in need."

For phase one, the New York State Department of Health is awarding $10 million to organizations that are currently funded under the Comprehensive Family Planning Program (CFPP) - which delivers comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals of reproductive age - and have provided medical and/or surgical abortions in the past 12 months.

First round awardees are:

• Long Island Jewish Medical Center: 2 clinics
• Nassau Health Care Corporation: 1 clinic
• New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation - Harlem: 1 clinic
• New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation - Jacobi: 1 clinic
• New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation - Kings: 1 clinic
• New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation - Lincoln: 1 clinic
• Planned Parenthood of Central and Western NY Inc.: 9 clinics
• Planned Parenthood of Greater New York: 23 clinics
• Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc.: 10 clinics
• Planned Parenthood of North Country New York Inc.: 7 clinics
• Public Health Solutions: 2 clinics
• Staten Island University Hospital: 3 clinics
• Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood: 3 clinics

Following the leaked Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that signaled an overturning of Roe v. Wade, Governor Hochul announced a nation-leading $25 million Abortion Provider Support Fund on May 10 in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. This fund aims to expand New York State's provider capacity, ensuring continued access for those seeking abortion care in New York.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, "This funding awarded to organizations and providers across the state will help expand existing capacity, improve resources, and optimize infrastructure. I look forward - and remain committed - to working side-by-side with Governor Hochul and our abortion providers around the State to ensure they are fully supported as we assess the impact of Roe's reversal in New York to meet emerging and unexpected needs."

These efforts build on Governor Hochul's actions to protect abortion access in New York State. In addition to the Abortion Provider Support Fund, the Governor has also made $10 million available for reproductive healthcare centers to access security grants through the Division of Criminal Justice Services to help ensure the safety of the providers performing this vital care.

Last month, Governor Hochul signed a comprehensive, six-bill package passed by the legislature to further preserve, protect, and strengthen abortion rights for patients and providers in New York. The legislation takes specific actions to address a variety of legal concerns, including the establishment of a cause of action for unlawful interference with protected rights and the inclusion of abortion providers and patients in the Address Confidentiality Program. The new bills also prohibit misconduct charges against healthcare practitioners for providing reproductive services to patients who reside in states where such services are illegal and disallow medical malpractice insurance companies from taking adverse action against an abortion provider who provides legal care.

Additionally, immediately following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Governor Hochul launched a robust, multi-platform, paid public education campaign to ensure awareness that abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible, always. The statewide campaign includes multi-platform advertising efforts and a new website, providing a single destination for information about abortion rights, providers, supports, and payment options in New York.

Earlier this month, the first step to enshrine abortion rights into the New York State Constitution was passed.