Congratulations to Our Top Docs !
Marasco & Nesselbush proudly salutes this year ’ s Top Docs for their well-deserved recognition . As a leading injury law firm , we see first-hand the vital role doctors play in helping our clients rebuild their lives after sustaining a life-altering injury .
As our clients recover medically with the help of our state ’ s Top Docs , we fight for justice when serious injuries are the result of the negligence of others .
JOSEPH P . MARASCO DONNA M . NESSELBUSH
New England ’ s Trusted Personal Injury and Disability Law Firm
Providing Trusted Legal Care for Clients Suffering Life-altering Injuries
685 WESTMINSTER STREET PROVIDENCE , RI 02903 ( 401 ) 274-7400 WWW . M-N-LAW . COM
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Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom , a group of twenty-one organizations supporting lawmakers by lobbying for their passage and marshalling grassroots support , says coalition Chair Nicole Jellinek .
The coalition is working on a number of new initiatives : a bill to release from liability entities that want to donate feminine hygiene products to nonprofits , shelters — any group willing to supply them — and another to allow trained pharmacists to dispense all FDA-approved hormonal contraceptives . The more immediate battles are passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act , which would end longstanding prohibitions on insurance reimbursements for abortion services for state employees and recipients of state Medicaid , and another to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women to a year post-birth .
Dr . Beth Cronin , an OB-GYN physician and head of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ’ state chapter , says the current rules cut some low-income pregnant women off from insurance six weeks after birth — a vulnerable period .
“ Six weeks postpartum is really fast when managing depression or high blood pressure or if someone wants sterilization ,” she says . “ These are equity issues and [ extending insurance coverage ] helps women take better care of their kids .”
Introduced in 2020 , the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act is expected to again face determined opposition . But , unlike in Sosnowski ’ s early years in the General Assembly , forty-seven legislators are co-sponsoring the bill to end a restriction affecting one-third of Rhode Island residents .
“ We know that reproductive freedom is social and economic justice . We want people to have bodily autonomy , have children when they want to have children and parent in sustainable communities . Just because you have a right , doesn ’ t mean you can access a medical procedure ,” says Jellinek . “ I ’ m delighted with all we accomplished last year . There is new energy at the State House that led to the passage of some important bills . But I don ’ t think it ’ s enough .” �
Ellen Liberman is an award-winning journalist who has commented on politics and reported on government affairs for more than two decades .
38 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY 2022