The Senate Committee on Steering and Policy convened on May 28, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding healthcare access, particularly focusing on reproductive health and gender-affirming care in Massachusetts. The meeting featured testimonies from various stakeholders, including Julia Keogh, CEO of Health Imperatives, who highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare providers in under-resourced regions.

Keogh began her testimony by expressing gratitude for the committee's efforts in protecting abortion rights and gender-affirming care. She detailed the services offered by Health Imperatives, which operates seven reproductive health clinics across Southeastern Massachusetts. These services include medication abortion, gender-affirming care, and support for vulnerable populations, including immigrants and those affected by domestic violence.

A significant portion of Keogh's testimony addressed the financial hurdles faced by her organization. She noted that despite receiving state and federal funding, the infrastructure for reproductive healthcare remains unstable. Keogh shared her experience of securing funding to provide medication abortion services, which had previously been unavailable in the region, only to encounter insurance challenges that threatened the viability of these services. She emphasized the need for stronger protections against discrimination in insurance coverage for both abortion and gender-affirming care.

Keogh also raised concerns about the rising costs of health insurance for nonprofit providers, which have escalated dramatically over the past three years. She reported that her organization’s health insurance expenses increased from $960,000 to over $2 million, forcing layoffs and jeopardizing the provision of essential healthcare services. Keogh urged the committee to consider measures to limit health insurance increases for nonprofit healthcare providers, stressing the irony that organizations providing care to low-income individuals are themselves facing financial strain.

The discussion highlighted the broader implications of healthcare access in Massachusetts, particularly for marginalized communities. Keogh pointed out that many individuals in Southeastern Massachusetts are either uninsured or underinsured, exacerbating health disparities in one of the nation’s most expensive states for healthcare.

Following Keogh's testimony, the committee continued to hear from additional witnesses, including Grant Drain, Chief of Staff for Trans Health, who spoke about the unique challenges faced by the trans and gender-diverse community in accessing healthcare.

The meeting underscored the urgent need for legislative action to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and ensure equitable access to essential services for all residents of Massachusetts. The committee's ongoing discussions will likely shape future policies aimed at addressing these critical issues.