Alabama's IVF warning
and using federal Medicaid $$ to fund rental assistance for the first time
What’s happening in Alabama right now is chilling. For those who haven’t heard, the Alabama state Supreme Court ruled last week that frozen embryos count as “children” under a state law, and now major IVF facilities in the state are halting operations — citing fear of criminal prosecution and liability.
I spoke this week with the head of Planned Parenthood Alabama, and with a woman who has a 2-year-old from Alabama IVF. She now lives in Minnesota, but her remaining eleven embryos are still stored in an Alabama facility. It's chaos for her and many others.
I wrote about how this is all connected to the “fetal personhood” wing of the anti-abortion movement, the radical wing that wants to endow fetuses (and embryos) with the full rights and legal protections of human beings. The overturn of Roe is about more than just abortion.
Some other recommended reading on this topic in particular:
American legal historian Mary Ziegler on the push for “fetal personhood”
A good Bloomberg story on the history of IVF + the anti-abortion movement
Earlier this month I published a different story, on the fact that for the first time in its almost 60 year history, federal Medicaid dollars will start going towards paying (up to 6 months of) rent. It's a really major policy development — one with huge opportunities, risks, and challenges.
It’s also part of a growing movement that says housing is a fundamental part healthcare. I spoke with state and federal housing and health officials officials, as well as homeless advocates about what this new Medicaid announcement means, and what it could mean. And how to think about it all in a world where we lack enough affordable housing.
Thanks so much for reading, it’s been another upsetting, grueling few weeks for journalism. Three outlets I gladly freelanced for over many years (Vice, The Intercept, and DCist) announced major layoffs this month. If you’re able, please consider subscribing to some outlets you care about.