MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — States with restrictive abortion laws generally have more porous safety nets for mothers and young children, according to recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press.
Tennessee is an example of how this plays out. Tennessee residents of childbearing age are more likely to live in maternal care deserts and face overall doctor shortages. Women, infants and children are less likely to be enrolled in a government nutrition program known as WIC. And Tennessee is one of only 10 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid to a greater share of low-income families.
The AP reported on how safety net programs in Tennessee and states with similarly strict abortion laws often fail families. Here are some key takeaways.
The Republican supermajority in the Tennessee legislature has long rebuffed efforts to expand Medicaid to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level — about $35,600 for a family of three.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled TennCare — the state's Medicaid program — unlawfully terminated coverage for thousands of families and had a “lethargic” response to nearly 250,000 children losing coverage because of paperwork problems.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee argues that his administration has enhanced services. For example, it boosted its Medicaid coverage for mothers in 2022 from 60 days postpartum to one year, which allowed an additional 3,000 moms to use the program each year.
The state also raised the Medicaid income limit for parents to the poverty level — nearly $26,000 for a family of three — and began offering recipients 100 free diapers a month for babies under 2.
“Pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn,” Lee said in his 2023 annual address to lawmakers and echoed more recently on social media. “This is not a matter of politics. This is about human dignity.”
Moms described several aid programs as rife with red tape and other challenges.
Anika Chillis of Memphis was on WIC for several months after her son was born, but then went without because of a mistake during the renewal process — eventually getting it restored with help from the nonprofit Tennessee Justice Center.
Taylor Cagnacci of Kingsport, who is pregnant and has a 1-year-old, said she was on the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — formerly known as food stamps — for a while but missed an appointment and was unclear about the steps after that. The process to get recertified was “such a headache” that she’s going without SNAP.
“I just felt like it was purposely being made difficult so that I would just give up,” she said.
The issues extend beyond Tennessee. Women with young children in states where abortion is banned or limited to early weeks of pregnancy said it can be tough to get social services there, according to a survey by the health policy research organization KFF. Nearly half said it’s difficult for women in their state to get food stamps, for example, compared with 3 in 10 in states where abortion is generally available.
Of Tennessee’s 2.8 million households, 30% earn above the poverty level but not enough to afford the basic cost of living in their counties, according to a recent report. Often, they don’t qualify for government help.
A fragmented patchwork of charities can help, but they don’t cover the entire state. Some nonprofits are hindered in helping by government agencies’ income rules. And most charities are constrained by the ebb and flow of donations.
Nonprofit leaders fear that safety net gaps may grow with a new administration in Washington and a GOP-controlled Congress. Republicans could seek significant changes to federal assistance programs they’ve long criticized, like Medicaid and food stamps.
“We’ve been through four years of a Trump administration, and the goal under the Trump administration was to cut social services,” said Signe Anderson, the Tennessee Justice Center's senior director of nutrition advocacy. “I’m concerned … for families in Tennessee and across the country.”
Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee. AP data journalists Kasturi Pananjady and Nicky Forster contributed to this report.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Anika Chillis spends time with her children, Makhi 2, and Myla 9, at a playground Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Pharmacist Marcus Johnson gives instructions to an employee Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The pharmacy provides diapers free of charge to customers who qualify through the state's TennCare Diaper Benefit. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Anika Chillis, left, spends time with her children, Makhi, 2, center, and Myla 9, right, at a playground Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tatayanna Johnson carries a box of diapers for her child from the Pharmalife Community Pharmacy, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Johnson participates in the states TennCare Diaper Benefit, which provides free diapers for children under the age of two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
DALLAS (AP) — Defenseman Brock Faber scored a wraparound goal 35 seconds into overtime and the Minnesota Wild rallied from two goals down midway through the third period to beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Friday night.
Jonas Brodin and Marcus Foligno scored 57 seconds apart in the third to tie the score for the Wild, whose 29 road points (13-3-3) are tops in the league. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves.
Evgenii Dadonov and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist giving Dallas a 2-0 lead through two periods. Jake Oettinger, a Minnesota native, stopped 15 shots for the Stars, who are 0-2-1 in their last three home games.
Faber took a pass from Matt Boldy near center ice on the first overtime shift, skated in and behind the net as Oettinger couldn’t move quickly enough from the left post to the right post.
Minnesota played without star forward Kirill Kaprizov, among the league leaders with 23 goals and 50 points, who sat out with a lower body injury.
The Stars played down a man after forward Mason Marchment left late in the first period after being struck in the face by a puck.
Minnesota was also missing forward Joel Eriksson Ek (missed his 11th straight game, lower body) and defenseman Jacob Middleton (seventh straight, upper body).
Wild: A team that took a 2 1/2-hour flight on Friday morning became energized in the third period.
Stars: Dallas went 0 for 3 on the power play, falling to a league-low 9.8% (6 for 61) at home.
Foligno’s shot through traffic banged off the post to tie the score at 11:32 of the third period.
The Wild were outshot 22-9 through two periods, then outshot the Stars 8-7 in the third period and had the only shot in overtime.
Wild host Ottawa on Sunday, and Stars visit Chicago.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger gives up a goal to Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) and center Sam Steel (18) defend the goal against Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) skates for the puck in front of Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) falls to ice as Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) calls for an end to play after Marchment was hit by a puck in front of Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) defends the goal against Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) breaks away with the puck from Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) on his way to score a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars right wing Evgenii Dadonov (63) scores a goal against Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson defends the goal during the the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) is tended to after he was hit by the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) celebrates scoring the winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)