Low-Income Women's Access to Abortion

Oregon allows women eligible for state medical assistance for general health care to obtain public funds for abortion.  Or. Admin. R. 410-130-0562;  Or. Dep't of Human Servs., Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Medical-Surgical Servs. Rulebook, 410-130-0562 (July 1, 2006) at http://www.dhs.state.or.us/policy/healthplan/guides/medsurg/130rb1208.pdf.

A court held that a previous regulation that limited state medical assistance for abortions to cases of life endangerment, as well as one elective abortion for a woman 18 or older and two elective abortions for a woman under 18, was unconstitutional under the Oregon Constitution.  The court found that the regulation was inconsistent with legislative policy and that it imposed arbitrary limitations.  Planned Parenthood Ass'n v. Dep't. of Human Res., 687 P.2d 785 (Or. 1984).