Maine lawmakers advanced a shield law yesterday to protect providers and patients of abortions and gender-affirming care; if passed, Maine would join at least 17 other states with similar shield laws: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/21/bill-to-shield-providers-of-abortions-and-gender-affirming-care-advances-after-partisan-clash-in-committee/

A recent episode from Slate’s “What Next” podcast features reporter Julianne McShane who speaks about her work investigating how Oklahoma’s abortion ban impacted victims in the state: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4m8BXG0sBsrx8VBxnYeyxK

New findings from Guttmacher’s Monthly Abortion Provision Study show that the number of abortions in the U.S. increased in 2023, by 10% from 2020: https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/despite-bans-number-abortions-united-states-increased-2023

There’s a growing movement in the U.S. for doulas to provide more support for some reproductive health services, such as abortion and miscarriage management; some Planned Parenthood affiliates have been offering training services to doulas: https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-affiliates-train-abortion-doulas-reduce-stress-patients

The new documentary “Preconceived” details the connection between crisis pregnancy centers and well-funded anti-abortion organizations: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/preconceived-review-1235844659/

Maternal health advocates push Wyoming lawmakers to address the pregnancy care crisis with 11 of 23 counties lacking a practicing OB-GYN: https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nearly-half-wyoming-counties-lack-ob-gyn-will-lawmakers-respond

Telehealth provision of medication abortion is safe and effective, but ensuring equitable access is challenging in the USA — and further compounded by an upcoming Supreme Court case (paywall): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02876-0

KFF Health News correspondent Rachana Pradhan joins PBS NewsHour to discuss an investigation that found policies at Catholic-run hospitals restrict reproductive health care (Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPfx9yJ_kv0

Kansas moved closer Thursday to requiring abortion providers to ask patients why they want to terminate their pregnancies and report the answers to the state: https://kansasreflector.com/2024/03/08/kansas-extremists-cant-ban-abortion-so-theyve-decided-to-harass-innocent-women-instead/

Hawaiian midwives are suing the state of Hawaii over a new law that criminalizes Indigenous birthing customs: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/27/hawaii-midwives-lawsuit-birth-regulation-indigenous