Low-Income Women's Access to Abortion

Massachusetts allows women eligible for state medical assistance for general health care to obtain public funds to pay for a medically necessary abortion, or for an abortion if the woman is a victim of rape or incest reported to a law enforcement agency or public health service within 60 days of the incident.  A medically necessary abortion is one which is necessary in light of all factors affecting the woman's health.  Mass. Regs. Code tit. 130, § 484.001, 433.455; Commonwealth of Mass., Medical Assistance Program Provider Manual Series, Abortion Clinic Manual, § 484.001 (Mar. 1, 1994) at http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/masshealth/regs_provider/regs_abortionclinic.pdf. 

A court held that a previous statute that prohibited state funds from paying for abortion except to preserve the woman's life was unconstitutional under the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights because it prohibited reimbursement for medically necessary abortion services.  Moe v. Sec'y of Admin. & Fin., 417 N.E.2d 387 (Mass. 1981).