National Women's Law Center

Reproductive Choices

For more than three decades, the Center has worked to preserve women's right to make their own reproductive choices. Reproductive health care must be both comprehensive and affordable for women to lead healthy and productive lives. Our work to prevent unintended pregnancy includes efforts to increase and protect access to contraception, including emergency contraception. The Center is at the forefront of efforts to expand access for low-income women through Medicaid and private insurance coverage of contraception.

In addition, the Center address barriers to reproductive health care access, such as religious restrictions on reproductive health services, including pharmacist refusals to provide contraception. The Center protects women's right to safe, legal abortion, which includes judicial nominations advocacy to ensure that the courts do not undermine the right to choose. The Center also opposes attempts to criminalize the behavior of pregnant women. The troubling trend of prosecuting women for drug use during pregnancy only discourages women from seeking prenatal care, and results in less healthy mothers and babies.

The Medicaid Family Planning Project

NWLC is working in partnership with advocates and policymakers to expand access to contraception and other preventive health care critical to the health and well-being of low-income women and their families.

	About the Project: The Medicaid Family Planning Project
	Learn More: Governors Urge Inclusion of Medicaid Family Planning State Option in Health Care Reform
	Get the Resources: Medicaid Family Planning Resources for Advocates and Policymakers

Attack on Women's Health: The Health Care Refusal Regulation

NWLC has called on President Barack Obama to reject the Bush Administration's final attack on women's health by rescinding the Department of Health and Human Services rule that undermines patients' access to vital health services and information and poses a serious threat to women's health.

	NWLC Comments: In Support of the Rescission of the Harmful HHS Regulation
	Learn More: HHS Rule Undermines Patients' Access to Vital Health Services and Information
	When Health Care Providers Refuse: The Impact on Patients of Providers' Religious and Moral Objections to Give Medical Care, Information or Referrals

The Health Care Religious Restrictions Project

More and more, religious restrictions are limiting women's access to reproductive health care. Both institutions (such as hospitals, HMOs, and employers) and individuals impose their beliefs on women seeking services or payment for services.

	About the Project: The Health Care Religious Restrictions Project
	Ask!: Will the Moral or Religious Beliefs of Your Health Care Providers Limit Your Access to Health Care?
	Share Your Story: Have You or Someone You Know Ever Sought Help for an Ectopic Pregnancy or a Miscarriage and Were Delayed or Denied Treatment?

The Pharmacy Refusal Project

Refusals to fill prescriptions for contraception and to provide emergency contraception (E.C.) over-the-counter are an increasing problem across the country.

	Get the Facts: Pharmacy Refusals 101
	Partners in Access: A Toolkit for Working with State Pharmacy Boards to Stop Refusals in the Pharmacy
	Drugstore Dilemma: What to Do if Your Pharmacy Won't Give You Birth Control Pills or Emergency Contraception (the "Morning After Pill")
	Share Your Story: Have You or Someone You Know Been Denied Emergency Contraception (E.C.) or Another Contraceptive?

A Platform for Progress: Building a Better Future for Women and Their Families

With the 2008 election behind us, it's time to look to the future and work together to tackle the issues that are so critical to women and their families.

	A Platform for Progress: Improving Women's Health
	Fact Sheet: Ensuring That the Government Helps Women Meet Their Reproductive Health Needs
	Poll Findings: What Women Want