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HE A LTH • Summer 2022 11 of an abortion, Childs-Roshak said. Telehealth appointments, where providers typically prescribe the abortion pill to terminate a pregnancy, are becoming more common, she said. "Patients are used to and expect to see telemedicine care now, including care over the phone or over the internet, and virtual visits," she said. "I certainly expect that patients will be more interested in telehealth." But as legislators in some states propose passing laws to penalize out-of-state doctors for performing abortions if Roe falls, it's not exactly clear what the path forward will be. Angelico said Jane Fund volunteers are thinking about how far they're willing to go to help people who call asking for help. "It's a huge ask, to ask one of our hotline volunteers to be named in a lawsuit," she said. "It's something on an individual level. They have to decide what they might be willing to do." Already strained Andy Saltzberg joined Planned Parenthood in Worcester as part of the organization's Raíz constituency program about eight months ago. In their role, Saltzberg helps to connect the Latinx community with Planned Parenthood's reproductive care. They also help make sure Planned Parenthood's lens extends to people who don't speak English or who may be undocumented. The problem is that oftentimes, Planned Parenthood workers are overworked and underpaid, Saltzberg said. They currently get paid an hourly wage of $24.25, but some of their coworkers, including health care assistants, get paid $19 per hour, even in the Boston area. Saltzberg is one of the Planned Parenthood workers who filed to join 1199 SEIU Healthcare Workers East, part of the Service Employees International Union. The Roe draft was part of the reason for unionizing, a press release said, and Saltzberg said they think Massachusetts is likely to see a surge of out-of-state patients should the law be overturned. "We really believe that the folks on the ground providing abortions know how to best provide abortion care, and that folks on the ground have to have more of a say on decisions in the organization," they said. "We're doing it for ourselves as workers, but also for patients that come to get care." Childs-Roshak said in a statement Planned Parenthood does not believe a union is the best course of action for its workforce, because as Roe v. Wade is poised to be overturned, "we'll need to be even more creative, nimble, and collaborative in how we deliver care and how we operate as an organization." "PPLM respects its workers' right to organize in favor of a union, which is why we are actively working with the [National Labor Relations Board] to facilitate an election later this month," she said. "PPLM will honor the results of that election." But as all the details fall into place, Kumaraswami said she's most concerned about people who already face significant barriers to health care. "We know that people with the means will always have access to safe abortion, but I worry that those who are most vulnerable, like LGBTQ patients, patients of color, or patients without insurance. Those are going to be the ones to suffer," she said. PHOTOS | ADOBE STOCK.COM H What to know about abortion rights in Massachusetts • Abortions are legal for any pregnancy up to 24 weeks. • After 24 weeks, abortions can happen if the physical or mental health of the pregnant person is at risk or in the case of a lethal fetal anomaly. • Patients ages 16 and older do not need permission from a parent in order to obtain an abortion. • MassHealth covers abortion. • Out-of-pocket cost for the abortion pill can total $200, but a surgical procedure can range from $700 to $2,000, depending on the length. Source: The Jane Fund and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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