NY DOH Announces $20M for Abortion Health Care Services

NY DOH Press Releases 2026

Published March 18th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The New York State Department of Health has announced a new $20 million funding opportunity for abortion health care services through the Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund. Letters have been issued to 22 potential awardees notifying them of their eligibility for these state grants.

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What changed

The New York State Department of Health, through Governor Hochul's initiative, has announced $20 million in state grants available to eligible providers for medication abortion health care services. This funding, part of the FY25 enacted State budget, aims to support the Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund and ensure equitable access to timely and quality abortion services. The funds can be used for staff recruitment and retention, expanding service hours, care management, uncompensated care, and administrative costs that increase access.

Eligible providers have been notified of their potential to receive funding. This initiative builds upon a previous $25 million fund established in 2022. Regulated entities, specifically healthcare providers offering abortion services, should review the eligibility criteria and application process for this supplemental funding to enhance their service offerings and operational capacity. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned for applying, the announcement indicates funding availability and notification to potential awardees.

What to do next

Review eligibility criteria for the Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund
Assess opportunities to apply for or utilize the $20 million in state grants for abortion health care services

Source document (simplified)

Health Reproductive Health Women March 18, 2026 Albany, NY

Governor Hochul Announces New Funding Opportunity for Abortion Health Care Services

Governor Hochul Announces New Funding Opportunity for Abortion Health Care Services $20 Million in State Grants for Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Program Available to Eligible Providers

State Department of Health Issued Letters to 22 Awardees Announcing Funding Availability

Traducción al español

Governor Hochul today announced $20 million in state grants available to eligible providers to fund medication abortion health care services under the New York State Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund. The Department of Health has issued letters to 22 potential awardees notifying them of their eligibility for funding.

“We are facing a time when our fundamental rights are under attack by anti-choice politicians who are determined to dismantle established reproductive freedoms,“ Governor Hochul said. “New York will always remain a safe haven for people seeking care, and I will never back down from fighting to protect access to health care that thousands of New Yorkers rely on.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Governor Hochul remains a champion for reproductive health care in New York State as abortion access remains under attack across much of the country. This critical funding ensures clinics have the support they need to continue to provide high quality health care services in communities across the state. New York remains committed to protecting these fundamental rights and remains a safe harbor for those in need of abortion care.”

In May 2022, in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Governor Hochul allocated a $25 million Abortion Provider Support Fund to expand New York’s provider capacity. As part of the FY25 enacted State budget, an additional $20 million in funding was made available to the New York State Department of Health through the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Grants Program.

The Supplemental Abortion Provider Support Fund provides financial support to providers of medication abortion to ensure they can provide equitable access to timely and quality abortion services.

The program funding supports the following:

Recruitment, hiring, training and retention of clinical and medical staff
Costs associated with expanding the number of hours, days and alternate times for currently employed clinical staff to provide increased access to care
Care management and navigation services
Funding uncompensated health care services associated with abortion care
Outreach and marketing costs and other administrative or operational needs that increase access to abortion care Governor Hochul has remained a champion of reproductive rights in New York State, ensuring abortion care remains available, affordable and accessible.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to support abortion providers, including additional funding in the FY26 Enacted Budget for capital investments to enable clinics to fund renovations and equipment upgrades to help facilities modernize and secure their operations.

Further, Governor Hochul worked with the Legislature last year to codify abortion as protected emergency medical care in New York State, requiring hospitals to provide this care, reinforcing access to abortion services when medically necessary.

Abortion access remains safe and accessible for New Yorkers and for those traveling from outside of New York State. Medication abortion is a safe method to end a pregnancy used by millions of people each year. Additional information about abortion access in New York State is available by visiting the Know Your Rights website here, and resources to locate an abortion provider are available here.