The front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. [Adobe stock photo]
Days after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade’s protection of abortion rights, medical device companies are among those reassuring workers about healthcare access.
Corporate communications to employees and the public at large come as trigger laws in nearly half of the states outlaw abortion immediately.
At least some medtech companies are not using the word “abortion” in their statements to news media.
Here is what we’re finding out at MassDevice and Medical Design & Outsourcing:
Medtronic
“As a healthcare company, we are committed to ensuring access to quality healthcare, and that starts first and foremost with our people. We are expanding our benefits policies to enable access to critical healthcare services for our U.S. employees. The new benefit will allow for reimbursement of travel, relocation, and legal expenses and is in addition to coverage already included in U.S. Medtronic medical plans.” – statement shared by spokesperson Erika Winkels
Boston Scientific
“Our current U.S. health care benefits offer employees comprehensive coverage including a broad range of reproductive health benefits. We are working in cooperation with our insurance providers and within parameters of applicable laws to continue to provide access to the reproductive care that we currently offer, including making out-of-state care accessible for our covered employees residing in states that have instituted laws that limit access in their states.” – statement shared by spokesperson Kate Haranis
Rhia Ventures has created an online database with corporate responses to abortion bans, though there are no major medical device companies included at this point.