Reproductive Health Care Access Initiative
After the overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, California reaffirmed its status as a reproductive freedom state. In its 2022-23 budget, the State of California appropriated $120 million to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to establish and administer five programs designed to support and expand abortion, abortion-related care and reproductive health services across the State.
Clinical Infrastructure
The Clinical Infrastructure scholarship and loan repayment programs are intended to expand the number of health care providers offering abortion-related care and reproductive health services.
Reproductive Health Care funds are available through the HCAI loan repayment and scholarship programs listed below. Each program has a specific link where you can get more information and details on how to apply.
Funding Eligibility
HCAI opens application cycles for loan repayment, scholarship, and grant programs throughout the course of each year. Visit HCAI’s website for information about eligibility.
| Program Name | Eligible Professions or Education Programs | Application Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship Program | Certified Nurse Practitioner Certified Nurse Specialist Physician Assistant Certified Nurse Midwife Pharmacist | Open: August 1, 2023 Close: October 31, 2023 |
| Allied Healthcare Scholarship Program | Licensed Midwife Doula Community Health Worker Medical Assistant Pharmacy Technician | Open: August 1, 2023 Close: October 31, 2023 |
| Behavioral Health Scholarship Program | Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate Clinical Social Worker Licensed Psychologist Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Associate Professional Clinical Counselor | Open: May 15, 2023 Close: August 15, 2023 |
| Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment Program | Registered Nurse | Open: May 1, 2023 Close: July 31, 2023 Awards Announcements Anticipated: September 2023 |
| Licensed Vocational Nursing Loan Repayment Program | Licensed Vocational Nurse | Open: May 1, 2023 Close: July 31, 2023 Awards Announcements Anticipated: September 2023 |
| Licensed Mental Health Services Provider Education Loan Repayment Program | Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate Clinical Social Worker Licensed Clinical Psychologist Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Associate Professional Clinical Counselor | Open: May 1, 2023 Close: July 31, 2023 Awards Announcements Anticipated: September 2023 |
| California State Loan Repayment Program | Certified Nurse Practitioner Certified Nurse Midwife Licensed Clinical Psychologist Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Licensed Psychologist Pharmacist Physician Physician Assistant | Open: July 17, 2023 Close: September 15, 2023 |
| Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment Program | Physician | Open: May 1, 2023 Close: July 31, 2023 Awards Announcements Anticipated: September 2023 |
Capital Infrastructure
The Capital Infrastructure grant program aims to enhance the physical and digital security infrastructure for health care facilities and reproductive health care practitioners who provide abortion-related care and reproductive health services in California.
HCAI partnered with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to implement this grant program. The first Request for Proposal (RFP) resulted in grants totaling $8.2 million to 21 health care facilities and individual providers offering abortion care and reproductive health services. HCAI and CAL OES anticipate the release of another RFP in the Spring of 2024.
Resources
For More Information
Uncompensated Care Fund and Abortion Practical Support Fund
HCAI has contracted with Essential Access Health (Essential Access) to administer the Uncompensated Care and Abortion Practical Support Funds. Essential Access has a long history of supporting individuals who face barriers in accessing reproductive health services. Essential Access is responsible for distributing $60 million in grants to expand access to abortions, abortion-related services, and general reproductive health care.
- The Uncompensated Care Fund provides grants to health care providers who participate in the Medi-Cal program and who deliver abortion and abortion-related care to individuals without coverage for such services and with an income below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
- The Abortion Practical Support Fund provides grants to non-profit organizations to help individuals seeking abortion care with the supports necessary to access abortion-related care. Practical support can include travel, lodging, childcare, food, and other ancillary supports.
In July 2023, Essential Access announced Uncompensated Care grants totaling $20.7 million to 12 health care providers and Abortion Practical Support grants totaling $5 million to 16 nonprofit organizations.
Essential Access anticipates releasing another RFP for each fund in 2024.
Resources
California Reproductive Health Service Corps
The Reproductive Health Service Corps (“Corps”) will recruit, train, retain, and financially support a diverse workforce of health care professionals who commit to providing reproductive health services, including abortion care, for at least three years.
As of August 2023, HCAI is in the process of contracting with two organizations to develop and provide this training.
Resources
Subscribe
Join the Reproductive Health Programs Update mailing list by clicking below to Subscribe to program announcements. Scroll down to Healthcare Workforce and select Reproductive Health Access Programs to receive program announcements.