Essential Access Health Announces Final Awards for California’s Uncompensated Care Abortion Access Program Three Years After the Supreme Court Overturned Roe

Los Angeles, CA – This week, as the nation marks the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, Essential Access Health announced the final awards from California’s Uncompensated Care abortion access grant program — a critical initiative established in the wake of the nation’s highest court dismantling the national right to abortion. More than $9.3 million was awarded to 15 organizations across California, representing the last of the available funds unless state action is taken to sustain the program. Together with funds previously disbursed, this amounts to more than $36.5 million awarded to 18 organizations since July 1, 2023, who have in turn provided no or low-cost abortion and contraception to more than 130,000 patients. 

“The Uncompensated Care abortion access grant program has turned California’s promise of being a Reproductive Freedom State into real, lifesaving action — providing a pathway to essential abortion and contraceptive care for patients across California and those forced to travel here due to the cruel and inhumane policies in their home states,” said Amy Moy, Co-CEO of Essential Access Health. “Essential Access Health is proud to partner with the State of California and our dedicated network of providers to increase access to time-sensitive care that remains out of reach for far too many, putting their lives and well-being at risk. The need for this program has only increased in the current political environment and as unprecedented threats at the federal level threaten to worsen an already harmful and dangerous public health crisis. We are committed to working with our state leaders and allied organizations to sustain this vital program long term.”

Established by AB 2134 (Weber, 2022) and administered by Essential Access Health on behalf of the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, the Uncompensated Care program provides funding to Medi-Cal-enrolled providers to deliver abortion and contraceptive care to income-eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured. More than 130,000 patients have been served with grant funds to date, most of whom are California residents who fall through gaps in public coverage like Medi-Cal and Family PACT.

As of June 2025, abortion is banned or significantly restricted in 26 states. In this climate, California has emerged as a refuge — but that promise depends on programs like Uncompensated Care. Grantees report that Uncompensated Care funds not only enabled them to serve more California residents, but also to meet rising demand from people traveling from states where abortion is banned.

Impact Reported by Uncompensated Care Grantees:

“Without this grant, it would be extremely challenging to continue providing essential services to women in need of contraceptive and abortion care. Our current budget has limited capacity, and while we strive to maximize resources, the demand for these critical services far exceeds what we can sustainably support without this funding. The grant plays a vital role in bridging the gap, ensuring that women—particularly those in our underserved or vulnerable communities—have access to the care they need.”

“A patient visited [our clinic] for abortion care after she had been turned away in three different states. Due to the delays caused by abortion bans across the South, it took this patient more than ten weeks to access care… Panicked, she called [us] and was connected with one of our patient navigators. The navigator scheduled the patient for an options counseling appointment less than one week later and informed her that there would be no charge for her care. The navigator also connected the patient with our partner abortion fund for travel and lodging assistance… [This patient] described the experience as the most professional medical care she’d ever received.”

“Due to the national political landscape and the new administration’s hardline on immigration, deportation, and reproductive health care access policies, we anticipate increased stressors for our patient population and a greater need than ever for accessible essential health care services. These relentless attacks continue to disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQIA+ communities, and individuals with low incomes and/or disabilities. We expect an even higher demand for contraception services and care for patients from outside the state and will continue to meet the urgency of the current moment.”

Funding through the Uncompensated Care Grant Program has allowed health centers to:

• Provide low or no-cost abortion and contraceptive care to over 130,000 patients with grant funds to date, including patients served retroactively during Fiscal Year 2022. 
• Expand access to telehealth medication abortion (teleMAB) and reach new patients in rural and underserved communities across California.
• Serve patients from out of state who were forced to travel to California due to abortion bans and restrictions in their home states.
• Cover the full cost of eligible care for some grantees, while others reported a combined $1 million deficit for grant-eligible services, underscoring demand and the need for sustained funding.
• Use other discretionary funding to expand access in other vital ways like staffing, infrastructure, and training.

Unfortunately, the FY 25-26 budget bill does not include additional investments for the Uncompensated Care program or Los Angeles Abortion Safe Haven program — also set to expire without additional funding — established in 2022 through the work of the California Future of Abortion Council in collaboration with Governor Newsom and the Women’s Legislative Caucus.