1OB-GYN Andrea Pelletier delivers about 100 babies a year. She also performs 2abortions as 3Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. A new law proposed and signed by Governor Janet Mills means Maine women no longer need to travel out of state for a4 rare abortion later in pregnancy.
"This now allows those patients to receive care at home with their support system and with their doctors that they trust."
"I went through a later in pregnancy abortion in my first pregnancy, which changed my life."
Zoe Reich, now a mother of two children, had to travel to Colorado for the 5procedure. She shared her story at the 6legislature's 7public hearing.
"It's difficult to put yourself out there in an incredibly 8vulnerable way in the 9public's eye to talk about one of the most 10heartbreakingmoments of your life."
Reich, who also attended the bill signing, says the law is about being able to make your own health care decisions without government i11nterference.
"Maine is the first state since Roe was 12overturned to expand abortion care later in pregnancy. That is incredible."
A second new law 13prohibits 14insurers from dropping malpractice coverage for abortion providers who treat women from other states where abortion is more 15restricted or 16banned.
"You need 17malpractice insurance to practice medicine. So, if you lose your malpractice insurance, you're not providing any medicine to anyone, abortion care or not."