FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
CONTACT: Sara Loflin, Executive Director at [email protected] or Kayla Frawley, Legislative Director at [email protected]

DENVER: Progress Now Colorado today applauded final passage of the ‘Safe Access to Protected Health Care’ bill package in the 2023 Colorado State Senate. The package includes legislation stopping disinformation and deceptive practices, such as the promotion of deceptive advertising and dangerous ‘abortion reversal; a shield law to protect abortion providers and patients that also includes gender-affirming care; and a bill to increase insurance coverage for reproductive health care.

“This bill package means Colorado continues to move boldly and proudly forward on protection abortion rights and gender-affirming care, even as so many other states go backwards,” said ProgressNow Executive Director Sara Lu Loflin. “We heard so many stories from patients from other states who have had to come to Colorado for health care they couldn’t get, or were afraid to even try to get, in their home states. And reproductive health care providers here talked about the climate of fear for them and their colleagues.

This package of bills will ensure patients can access care, and providers can offer it, without fear, threats, lies, or intimidation from anti-abortion bullies in other states or even here in Colorado. And just as important, it removes barriers to care for Coloradans. We must increase affordability and access, prevent deceptive, dangerous practices like ‘abortion reversal’, and protect patients from anti-abortion zealots that lie to them about their health care.

The Safe Access to Protected Health Care bill package is both good politics and good policy. As the first state to allow legal abortion, and a state that protects LGBTQ rights with a non-discrimination law, Colorado has never been afraid to lead on abortion rights and reproductive health. The time is now to continue that leadership as the package moves to the House.”

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