INDIANAPOLIS – A controversial piece of legislation that would require doctors to inform women who want to have an early stage non-surgical abortion that the procedure may be "reversible" will likely end up in court, if approved by lawmakers.
On a seven-to-six vote, the House Public Policy Committee signed off on HB 1128 this month, and in a rare procedural move, the full House sent it back to them.
The proposal raises medical and political questions, as well as privacy concerns: how much should government control physicians' conversations with their patients?
Betty Cockrum, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, calls the legislation preposterous, and says claims that the procedure can be reversed are "junk science." She says people need to speak up because it's unconstitutional and will be challenged in court if it were to become law.
"There simply is no medically based, evidence-based, health-care provider professional-based evidence to suggest that there's any truth to that, yet Indiana lawmakers are seeking that that not only be a provision, but that it be put into code," she said.
Rep. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) introduced HB 1128. He told Indiana Lawmakers last week in a television interview that his goal is to dismantle Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the United States.
"The only way I can have any effect on it as a lawmaker is to try and chip away at it as long as I can.”
Anti-abortion groups such as Indiana Right to Life are hailing the committee approval of HB 1128, saying it ensures women are informed about their options and urging Hoosiers to call lawmakers in support of the legislation. It will be back before House Public Policy members again as early as this week.
Cockrum says the bill is an intrusion into the practice of medicine and doctor-patient confidentiality. She calls it a political effort to shame and confuse women who are contemplating ending a pregnancy.
"Two-thirds of the women who have abortions have already given live birth at least one time," she added. "Do they really need a politician-written script in advance of an abortion? I don't think so."
A federal judge blocked a controversial abortion law in Indiana last summer. House Bill 1337, signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence in March, bans women from seeking abortions based on race, gender or fetal defect. It also mandates that women be required to bury or cremate the fetus. The law also required that doctors have admitting privileges in order to practice abortion services.
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Summer will be here before you know it, and experts say now is the time to get prepared for Arizona's scorching and life-threatening temperatures.
Some 645 heat-associated deaths were confirmed by Maricopa County's Department of Public Health in 2023, breaking the previous year's record by more than 50%.
Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, the health department's medical director, said the 2023 Heat Related Deaths Report demonstrates this is a significant public health concern for Arizona's most populous county.
"This is really a call to action," she said, "to make sure that we all come together across the county - community-based organizations, cities, the county government - to prevent these deaths almost all of which are preventable."
In 2023, an average of 13 heat related deaths per day occurred during July, with people who were unhoused making up the largest proportion. With hotter months on the way, Sunenshine encouraged Arizonans to check on neighbors and seniors who may live alone, make sure air conditioning systems are working and follow the county's "10 tips" to stay safe in the heat.
In addition to tracking heat-related deaths, the Department of Public Health also conducted an evaluation of cooling and respite centers that were part of Maricopa County's Heat Relief Network last year. Sunenshine said they learned valuable details - including that two-thirds of respondents didn't have a stable home, and that many people found the cooling centers only through roadside signs advertising them.
"Some of the biggest barriers to accessing cooling centers are not knowing they exist, not knowing where they're located and not having transportation," she said, "and we based all our actions this upcoming summer on the results of this cooling center evaluation."
She said they were able to establish a call center, operated by bilingual community health workers, to help connect people not only to heat-relief resources but to energy and security-assistance programs.
Arizonans can call 211 to help find transportation to the nearest heat-relief location, when they open again on May 1.
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This week, an Alabama group is drawing attention to the need for Medicaid expansion.
Currently, approximately 300,000 people are stuck in a health care coverage gap, earning too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance.
Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director for Alabama Arise, said they are reaching out to legislators statewide and sharing information about the stakes involved.
"About 19 of our rural hospitals are at risk of immediate closure," Smith reported. "That means they are at risk of closing in the next year. And having patients that come in that don't have health insurance coverage is not good for their bottom lines."
The Cover Alabama Coalition is engaging lawmakers through meetings in their districts and encouraging residents to share their experiences and thoughts on Medicaid expansion via social media. Although 19 rural hospitals are due for immediate closure, a report on rural hospitals from advisory firm Chartis highlighted more could be at risk in the long run. The report revealed nearly 74% of Alabama's rural hospitals are operating at a loss.
Smith sees Medicaid expansion as a life-or-death matter, which can greatly enhance the quality of life for many residents. She noted it would provide access to preventive care and vital medications, and can help people enter or remain in the workforce. She pointed out the current Medicaid threshold creates barriers for families in need.
"Let's say a single mom with two kids, she can't make more than $4,656 a year and still qualify for Medicaid unless she has a disability or is pregnant," Smith observed. "And at the other end of the perspective, they have to make at least around $25,000 to qualify for the health insurance marketplace."
She added the expansion could also benefit around 5,000 veterans who lack coverage. Currently, 41 states including District of Columbia, have already expanded Medicaid. Mississippi has also recently passed legislation in its House, it is now waiting for a Senate vote.
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On Tuesday, Care4All California, a coalition fighting for affordable health care, unveiled a package of bills its members say they would like state lawmakers to pass.
Assembly Bill 3129 would give the California Attorney General the power to accept, reject or modify health care transactions involving private equity or hedge funds.
Asm. Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore and author of the bill, said mergers often improve the corporate bottom line but lead to higher prices for patients.
"We're often led to believe these consolidations will save money, that it's good for consumers," Wood observed. "But what we're actually seeing in health care is just the opposite, and it reduces competition."
Opponents said the bill would give government officials too much power. Care4All California also endorsed bills to help the state enforce requirements around implicit bias training for women's health providers in an attempt to make sure patient complaints are taken seriously and to reduce the number of people of color who die from pregnancy complications.
Asm. Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, is behind Assembly Bill 2297, which she said aims to make sure people do not lose their homes due to medical debt.
"A loophole allows debt collectors to place liens on patients' homes to collect unpaid medical debt," Friedman pointed out. "AB 2297 closes that loophole, and prohibits liens on property when collecting medical debt from financially qualified patients."
Another bill in the package would allow a 12-month grace period to cover people who qualify for Medi-Cal but were kicked off due to an administrative issue.
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