GOP lawmaker introduces bill banning telemedicine abortion

A bill aimed at banning telemedicine abortion was introduced last week by Republicans in the House. 

Rep. Pamela Hornberger (R-Chesterfield Twp.) on Wednesday introduced House Bill 6069, which states that “a physician shall not utilize other means including, but not limited to, an internet web camera, to diagnose a pregnancy or the gestational age of a pregnancy and prescribe a medical abortion.”

This bill was introduced just days after a leaked draft decision from the U.S. Supreme Court proved that the court’s 6-3 right-wing majority is likely to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said in a statement Thursday that until Roe v. Wade is overturned and Michigan falls back on a 1931 law that makes essentially all abortions in the state a federal crime, “we applaud Rep. Hornberger’s continued efforts to protect women from dangerous mail-order abortions and to protect the innocent unborn from death by abortion pills.”

Telemedicine abortion is a form of abortion care where patients get online access to medication abortion using mifespristone and misoprostol, which can be taken during the first 10 weeks of gestation, by allowing health care providers to prescribe or supervise the use of the pills through video or telephone meetings.  

As it stands, telemedicine abortion is technically legal in the state. However, Michigan does have a requirement that the patient must get an ultrasound before an abortion, which would require the patient to go into a clinic. 

HB 6069 was referred to the Health Policy Committee.