The Future of Reproductive Healthcare in California: Will It Increase the Need for More Medical Assistants Across the State?

With the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision reversing Roe v. Wade, the federally protected constitutional right to abortion across the U.S. is gone. For now, the Supreme Court has left the decision to the individual states, causing a number of trigger laws to go into effect, restricting or banning abortion in multiple states. These changes in states’ laws are likely to create an influx of women seeking reproductive healthcare in California, a state that guarantees the right to abortion in statute and the state constitution. As the number of abortions performed in California increases, we expect to see a corresponding increase in the number of service providers and staff, such as medical assistants, needed to ensure high-quality reproductive healthcare.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, the overturning of Roe v. Wade makes California the nearest abortion provider for 1.3 million people of reproductive age, and the expectation is that many from nearby states with bans and restrictions, such as Arizona, will travel to California to obtain an abortion. While exact figures are hard to discern, these estimates project an exponential increase in abortions performed throughout California. 

Jodi Hicks, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said in a statement: “I want to be crystal clear: abortion remains legal here in California and we are working to ensure that people — regardless of where they come from — can access abortion services with as much support and as few barriers as possible. To people across the country living in a state hostile to abortion: California is here for you. We will not turn people away, and we will find a way to support you so that you can get the care you need.”

For training institutions such as Bay Area Medical Academy, we look forward to growing to meet the needs of California healthcare institutions and train qualified Medical Assistants so they are ready to support California’s expanding healthcare sectors. Our graduates work as medical assistants, phlebotomists, and EKG technicians in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices.

“Medical assistants, EKG technicians, and phlebotomists are already in high demand across the state, according to healthcare partners whose staffing needs have increased due to the COVID19 pandemic, the increased demand for services, and overall staff burnout—adding to the ongoing healthcare needs of an aging population in California,” said Simonida Cvejic, founder of Bay Area Medical Academy (BAMA). “The increase in people seeking legal abortions in California would only increase the need for healthcare support staff such as Medical Assistants.”

Resources:

• Planned Parenthood has put together a guide to help those trying to navigate the current status of abortion in their state.
• Guttmacher Institute provides facts and data about abortion access across the U.S. and around the world.