Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Texas Lawmakers Want Abortion Clinics To Be Required To Report Complications To Health Department
Health facilities that perform聽abortions may soon have to release more detailed data on complications that聽arise during and after聽the procedure 鈥 another move by GOP lawmakers to crack down on abortions in Texas. House lawmakers聽voted 94-52 to require hospitals, birthing centers, community health centers and freestanding emergency rooms that perform abortions 鈥 not just abortion clinics 鈥斅爐o submit complication reports to the Department of State Health Services. (Evans, 5/11)
Revisiting the sorts of abortion battles that have embroiled Texas over recent legislative sessions, the House on Thursday considered a measure that requires facilities providing abortions to report complications related to the procedure. House Bill 2962, by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, proposes that every hospital, abortion facility, and medical care facility that provides emergency care assemble a quarterly report on each abortion complication diagnosed or treated at the facility. (Price, 5/11)
Meanwhile, in Illinois 鈥
Democratic lawmakers in Illinois on Thursday said they have placed on hold a bill that expands state-funded coverage of abortions for low-income residents and state employees but faces a likely veto from the state's Republican governor. The bill, which received final passage in a 33-22 state Senate vote on Wednesday, also aims to keep abortions legal in Illinois if the U.S. Supreme Court follows President Donald Trump's call to overturn its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that made abortions legal 44 years ago. (Mclaughlin, 5/11)
Illinois Senate Democrats are temporarily halting聽a controversial abortion bill from reaching the governor鈥檚 desk 鈥 calling it a way to protect the bill from Gov. Bruce Rauner鈥檚 vowed veto 鈥渦ntil he comes to his senses.鈥 The bill would force the Republican governor running for re-election to decide whether to risk angering socially moderate voters by vetoing it, or risk the wrath of conservatives by signing it. (Sfondeles, 5/11)