Governor Maura Healey today condemned a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services compliance review of Massachusetts’ requirement that private health insurance plans cover abortion care, calling it “the latest effort by President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to take away women’s reproductive rights.
”The HHS Office for Civil Rights notice questions whether the state’s mandate violates federal conscience protections by limiting opt-outs for employers or insurers opposed to abortion.
Healey vowed Massachusetts would not back down, stating: “We’re not going to be intimidated by this investigation, and we are going to continue protecting women’s access to reproductive health care.”The review is part of broader Trump administration actions targeting similar laws in several states.
Massachusetts’ Shield Law, enacted after Dobbs, mandates no-cost abortion coverage in regulated plans and has made the state a leader in reproductive rights protections.Healey’s office said the Commonwealth will cooperate with information requests while enforcing its laws.
No immediate changes to coverage are expected, but the probe could spark further legal action.
