This document summarizes abortion policies in New York State. It discusses that federal funding for abortions is limited by the Hyde Amendment, but 15 states including New York use state funds. It also notes that New York does not require parental involvement for minors seeking abortions. The document argues this could enable minors to get secret Medicaid-funded abortions. It questions why abortion has fewer age restrictions than activities like smoking or military service. In closing, it calls for upholding the Hyde Amendment, enacting parental notification in New York, ending certain Medicaid taxes, and simplifying the adoption process.

1. Abortion policies in New
York State
• Government Funding
• Decision control for minors
• Adoption costs and impact

2. Hyde Amendment – Limits the use
of FEDERAL dollars for procedures
 See this link: https://aclj.org/pro-life/four-
things-you-need-to-know-about-the-hyde-
amendment-federally-funded-abortion
 Took effect in 1980 after SCOTUS review
 Before taking effect, taxpayers were paying
for about 300,000 abortions/yr- 25%
 Current standard – federal payment for
rape, incest, life endangerment
 Only South Dakota does not comply (life
endangerment only)

3. Medicaid Policy – Federal
AND STATE $$$ support
 Medicaid is how the Hyde rules are
typically implemented.
 https://www.guttmacher.org/state-
policy/explore/state-funding-abortion-
under-medicaid
 Fifteen (15) states exceed Hyde, use
state taxpayer dollars to fund abortion.
 NY one of five (5) states to divert
voluntarily, without a court order

4. Parental involvement for
minors seeking an abortion:
 https://www.guttmacher.org/state-
policy/explore/parental-involvement-
minors-abortions
 Thirty-seven (37) states require some
sort of parental involvement.
 New York is one where parents have
no role at all for a minor to make the
choice.

5. Perfect Storm- Sign up
minors for Medicaid
 Ambitious government funding + no
parental involvement = sign up minors
for Medicaid to keep abortion secret.
 https://www.nyaaf.org/need-help-
paying-for-an-abortion/
 “If you are a New York State resident and qualify for Medicaid,
you can have the full cost of your abortion covered. You can
be eligible regardless of citizenship or immigration status and
pregnant adolescents under 21 can enroll separately from
their parents”.

6. Further Medicaid problem
in New York - HCRA
 See these 3 articles:
 Medicaid provider taxes a scam -
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2016/
02/16/biden-was-right-medicaid-provider-taxes-a-
scam-that-should-be-scrapped/
 My article Jan 2018:
https://www.pressconnects.com/story/opinion/2018
/01/04/turn-real-tax-danger-new-york/109154498/
 HCRA took down Sheldon Silver:
https://www.politico.com/states/new-
york/albany/story/2015/03/the-hidden-health-tax-
that-brought-down-a-speaker-020131/

7. Framing adolescent
empowerment:
 Smoking and Vaping – Now age 21
(Summer 2019 law)
 Drinking age to 21 – 1985
 New York lottery, one of first states to
pass (1967), age 18
 Serve in military – age 18
 Marriage – age 18, signed 2017
 Abortion – no rule, isn’t it a major
decision?

8. Where abortions obtained
 https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-
sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-new-
york
 From above for US “Sixteen percent of facilities
in 2014 were abortion clinics (i.e., clinics where
more than half of all patient visits were for
abortion), 31% were nonspecialized clinics,
38% were hospitals and 15% were private
physicians' offices. Fifty-nine percent of all
abortions were provided at abortion clinics,
36% at nonspecialized clinics, 4% at hospitals
and 1% at physicians' offices.”

9. A few points about
adoption:
 Foster Child Adoption – Lowest Cost, typically
around $3,000
 International and Domestic Adoption – Range of
$30,000 to $70,000. Less than 1% of infants
 Pro-life advocates should seek out policies to make
adoption less costly and easier.
 US abortions approx. 600,000 per year, trending
down. Adoptions – 135,000 (59% foster care, 26%
international, 15% domestic)
 Some states offer subsidies to help cover child
costs, especially for special needs:
https://ocfs.ny.gov/adopt/subsidy.asp/

10. Summary call to action:
 Fight to sustain Federal Hyde
Amendment.
 In NY with current political profile,
argue for parental notification- consent
likely a losing battle
 Fight to end HCRA
 Simplify adoption, although we see
this in itself will not reduce abortions
much.

11. Thank you
 Prepared by:
Rich Purtell
email: rpurtell2@stny.rr.com