Biden signs executive order supporting interstate travel for abortions

President Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order for the Department of Health and Human Services to "consider action," including through Medicaid, to help women who travel across state lines to obtain an abortion that would otherwise be illegal in their home state.

The order also directs the department to "consider all appropriate actions to ensure health care providers comply with Federal non-discrimination laws so that women receive medically necessary care without delay," according to a White House press release.

Protecting abortion access has been one of the top priorities for the Biden administration since the Supreme Court in June overruled Roe v. Wade, the decades-old high court decision that provided a constitutional right to abortion.

As to interstate travel, the directive specifically tells HHS to "consider action to advance access to reproductive healthcare services, including through Medicaid for patients who travel out of state for reproductive healthcare services," the White House stated.

The order came one day after the Justice Department sued Idaho over its law banning most abortions.