Hospital Systems Reverse Reproductive Health Restrictions

[babylonsister]

The American Prospect
Home Health and Social Policy

Hospital Systems Reverse Reproductive Health Restrictions
The experience of two large systems in Michigan and Missouri speaks to a larger confusion about the role of hospitals in a post-‘Roe’ world.
by Jarod Facundo
July 11, 2022


Last Friday, President Biden signed an executive order titled “Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services,” empowering the Department of Health and Human Services to protect access to abortion medications and services. Politico reported that under the order the administration would also consider updating protections under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which would better guarantee access to lifesaving emergency medical care, including abortion services.

The executive order comes two weeks after the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, a reflection of how little Democrats had prepared for a post-Roe world. In fact, Republicans were “shocked” by the Democrats’ inaction. So far, the president has signaled support for a filibuster carve-out to codify Roe into law. But the delayed response from the highest levels of power has emboldened anti-abortion groups and their allies to test their luck at challenging a host of bills at the state level restricting access to reproductive health care services.

These battles have so far led some hospitals to attempt to roll back access to reproductive health care services. Dr. Jamila Perritt, president and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, explained to the Prospect that the reversal of Roe has caused confusion across the entire spectrum of reproductive health care. Perritt explained that by designating abortions as a state-level issue, it puts into question the procedures and protocols for other reproductive health care services such as pregnancy prevention, family planning, and miscarriage management.

“Abortion is the tip of the iceberg,” Perritt said.

more...

https://prospect.org/health/hospital-systems-reverse-reproductive-health-restrictions/

[love_katz]

1. Rather than tip of the iceberg it is

The camel's nose in the tent.

[summer_in_TX]

2. Today's statement from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra

should clarify things for the hospitals nicely.

Secretary Xavier Becerra
@SecBecerra
Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care — including abortion care. In no uncertain terms, HHS will enforce this.

• Federal law pre-empts state abortion bans in cases where women face medical emergencies associated with pregnancy, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told health care providers.
• States that have banned abortion generally make exceptions if the woman’s life is in danger, but U.S. health officials are concerned physicians will wait too long to treat complications.
• Hospitals that decline to provide abortions in these cases could have their Medicare provider agreements terminated or face financial penalties, Becerra said.

Becerra said federal law pre-empts state abortion bans in cases where women face medical emergencies associated with pregnancy under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. If an abortion is necessary to treat a woman facing a medical emergency, physicians must offer the procedure, the health secretary wrote.

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/07/08/statement-hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra-president-bidens-executive-order-protect-access-reproductive-health-care.html

[TeamProg]

3. But in some places, we're dealing with religious NUT CASES!!

[summer_in_TX]

4. A Reagan-era law adds teeth to this one.

Loss of funding.
Criminal penalties.
An affirmative over-riding obligation.

It'll help. Especially in the cases where it's not clearly going to kill the mother, so they might otherwise hesitate, check with the lawyers, get approval, waste time.