WENY News: A bill to expand abortion medication access

ALBANY, NY (WENY)-- While the Supreme Court continues to consider the Texas ruling on the abortion medication Mifepristone, some New York lawmakers take steps to protect access to abortion medication. 

A bill recently passed in the Senate, provides certain legal protections for physicians, midwives, and other advanced practitioners who facilitate access to abortion care, including prescribing abortion medication, via telehealth for out-of-state residents. 

“We owe it to our sisters throughout this country to do what New York does best, which is ensure that we provide a legal means for these practitioners who are willing to assume this risk to provide the services so that women can terminate pregnancies or can deal with miscarriage or can deal with all the other medical needs they have. This is about healthcare,” said Senator Shelley Mayer (D-37th Senate District). 

Some lawmakers who voted against this bill in the Senate expressed concerns. 

"This is highly political, the fact that we are saying that not only are we going to protect the so-called rights from other states, that’s really not our job. The United States is a union of states that each has their own sovereignty,” said Senator George Borrello (R-57th Senate District).  

Some physicians said this bill would help residents who may not be able to travel to New York for sanctioned care. 

"We can’t expect everyone to travel to New York or to the Northern states. Most people who are facing an unwanted pregnancy do not have the means to travel to get care. We really need to rely on telemedicine abortion,” said Dr. Linda Prine, MD, Family Medicine Physician. 

This bill is still in an Assembly committee. It would have to be passed by the Assembly and signed by the Governor becoming law. 

Original Article Here.