For clarity/reference, here is the most painfully bare bones info on abortion access in NB (1-3) and what HAS to frame discussions on this (4-5) (other than, you know, human rights and gender equality):

1) Surgical abortions are provided and “entitled services” (ie paid for by Medicare) in 3 hospitals (two in Moncton - less than 3 km apart - and one in Bathurst) up to 13 weeks 6 days gestation. Bathurst and one Moncton site are under Vitalité; the other Moncton site is Horizon.

2) Surgical abortions are provided but not paid for by Medicare at Clinic 554 in Fredericton up to 15 weeks 6 days gestation. Clinic 554 is a family practice, so it isn’t part of a health authority.

Clinic 554 bills its services to Medicare like all other family practices (and some specialized clinics do)—except for surgical abortion.

This is because “abortion, unless the abortion is performed in a hospital facility approved by the jurisdiction in which the hospital facility is located” is on the list of services “deemed not to be entitled” in Schedule 2 of Regulation 84-20 of the Medical Services Payment Act.

(This exclusion has a LONG history, but covering it would go beyond the bare bones spirit of this thread.)

3) Medical abortion using Mifegymsio is publicly covered for those with an NB Medicare card or using programs based on the provincial formulary (i.e. refugees using the IFHP). It can be prescribed on label up to 9 weeks gestation. It cannot be prescribed in some cases:

(That image is from the product monograph: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00050659.PDF)

Any physician or nurse practitioner CAN prescribe Mifegymiso but not all do; any pharmacist can stock and dispense it but not all do. There is no comprehensive public listing of where you can get it prescribed or dispensed.

4) People travel for health care all the time, but a) not all health care is time sensitive in the way abortions are and b) no health care is stigmatized and outright protested like abortion is. There are unique timing, privacy, and safety concerns involved in accessing abortion.

5) Intersectional analysis of services is always essential; given the unique concerns around abortion access, it’s particularly high stakes here. Evaluations of access need to consider barriers based on gender, location, income, language, disability, race, violence, etc.