Cincinnati proposes covering travel costs for city workers’ out-of-state abortions

CINCINNATI — In response to Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval announced Monday new city policies to ensure employees of the city and their families have access to what he called, “the medical care they need,” our news partners WCPO in Cincinnati reported.

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Legislation was introduced to repeal a 2001 ordinance that restricts the city’s ability to provide coverage for elective abortions in its health plan, according to the mayor.

“Our Supreme Court, Congress, our Governor, state legislature, they have failed us,” Pureval said. “Local officials must now do whatever we can to protect the women in our communities.”

The city council will vote Wednesday on the repeal and if passes, the city will change its health insurance plan to fully include abortion-related health services, WCPO reported.

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The mayor said the city will implement a travel reimbursement policy for employees who have to leave the state to get health care services that aren’t available in Ohio.

Pureval also said his administration is looking into ways to decriminalize abortion in the city and that city resources will not be used to prosecute women seeking abortions or abortion provides.

“You are not alone and Cincinnati is going to fight like hell for you,” the mayor said to women of the city and that history will judge those responsible for this decision.

Following SCOTUS’ decision Friday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced on Twitter that Ohio’s, “Heartbeat Bill is now the law.” Ohio’s “Heartbeat Bill” outlaws abortions after six weeks, which is after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

Governor DeWine said in televised remarks Friday he would not, “debate the merit of this decision,” and asked the that issued be discussed in a kind, civil and respectful manner by all sides.

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