Dozens of Maryland lawmakers want to create a stable funding source for abortion care months after state residents voted to enshrine access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in the state constitution.

House Bill 930, sponsored by Del. Lesley Lopez, a Montgomery County Democrat, would create the Public Health Abortion Grant Program under the state health department to help fund abortion care for people who are uninsured, underinsured or unable to use their insurance due to risks posed by communication from insurance carriers regarding coverage, according to the bill language.

“We’ll have lots of hard choices to make this session, but this bill is not one of them,” she said at a House Health and Government Operations Committee bill hearing on Thursday. “Today, we have the opportunity to invest in the health of residents, improve economic security for our state and to meet the moment with no burden to taxpayers. Abortion is not a luxury, it is health care, and Maryland voters resoundingly agree.”

In November, 76% of Marylanders voted in favor of the statewide ballot question concerning access to reproductive health care.

Funding for the grant program would come from surplus insurance premiums mandated under the Affordable Care Act. A $1 premium is charged per member per month, exclusively for abortion coverage, Lopez said, and those funds are kept in separate accounts. The Maryland Insurance Administration believes $25 million in funds are available and an additional $3 million is generated annually, she added.

To ensure that funds are being used for direct services, Lopez said, the Maryland Department of Health must also give at least 90% of the total program funds to eligible organizations that provide abortion care services.

Even though Maryland has abortion protections in place, there are still issues with access to care for certain populations and locations, as well as the reality of providers leaving the field, said Karen Nelson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Maryland.

“Having this fund would limit the stress that’s put on providers, and most importantly, the patients themselves,” she said.

Lynn McCann-Yeh, co-executive director of the Baltimore Abortion Fund, said requests for assistance from her nonprofit have “continued to skyrocket” from both Maryland residents and people traveling from out of state for care, leading to limited funding and patients being turned away.

Patients sit in waiting rooms across the state, she said, hoping funding will come through and they can be seen, but help isn’t always available.

“Our case managers have to tell them, ‘I’m sorry, we don’t have enough, the best that we can do is give you a ride home or buy a plane ticket so that you can get back,’ ” McCann-Yeh said of people seeking abortions later in their pregnancies. “For later care clients, that means they’re often remaining pregnant and forced to give birth against their will. It is sickening that this is happening, and it is happening with increasing frequency.”

Opponents, however, argued against pushing more funding for abortion.

“The state is actively engaging in abortion coercion because it prioritizes abortion funding while depriving women equal access to life-saving alternatives to abortion,” said Laura Bogley, executive director of Maryland Right to Life. “If the state really trusts women to decide, then bring these pro-life bills to a vote and give women real choices. The multibillion-dollar abortion industry does not need or deserve more public funding.”

Have a news tip? Contact Natalie Jones at najones@baltsun.com.