Wis. Planned Parenthoods stops non-surgical abortions; Iowa could ban public funds for abortion in cases of rape, incest

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Apr 24 2012

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has stopped giving non-surgical abortions after a new law took effect that requires women to have three doctor visits before getting a drug-induced abortion. In Iowa, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is criticizing the state budget that would disallow public Medicaid funding for abortions in cases of rape or incest.

Reuters/MSNBC: Wisconsin's Planned Parenthood Suspends Non-Surgical Abortions
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has suspended non-surgical abortions in response to a new state law that makes it harder for women to have the procedure, a move that followed anti-abortion measures in several Republican-controlled states. The law, which took effect on Friday, requires women visit a doctor at least three times before having a drug-induced abortion, forces physicians to determine whether women are being coerced into having an abortion and prohibits women and doctors from using web cams during the procedure (O'Brian, 4/21).

The Associated Press: Planned Parenthood Suspends Pill Abortions In Wis.
Planned Parenthood ended nonsurgical abortions at its Wisconsin clinics Friday because of a new state law that subjects doctors who perform abortions but don't follow certain procedures to criminal penalties. The law, signed by Gov. Scott Walker two weeks ago after the Republican-controlled state Legislature passed it earlier this year, took effect Friday (Bauer, 4/20).

Des Moines Register: Planned Parenthood Criticizes Abortion Restrictions In Iowa House Version Of State Budget
The leader of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland on Friday sharply criticized Iowa lawmakers for abortion restrictions and possible changes to state funding for women's health care services included in a state budget bill. The budget for health and human services passed Wednesday in the House includes language removing an exception allowing the state Medicaid program to pay for abortions of pregnancies that result from rape or incest and reprioritizing how state and federal family planning funds are to be spent (Noble, 4/20).

This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.