New Brunswick to allow medicare to pay for surgical abortions outside hospitals

“Surgical abortions administered outside hospitals in New Brunswick will now be fully funded by medicare, Premier Susan Holt announced Thursday, reversing a controversial rule from 1984 that limited the procedure’s availability across the province.

Before the change, the government would only cover the cost of the surgical procedures if they were performed in one of three hospitals. Holt, whose Liberals came to power in an election last month, said her government’s decision is an important first step to improve abortion access.

“We believe that abortion is health care, and that everyone deserves access to the care that they need, when and where they need it, and so our team is proud to take this one small step,” she told reporters.”