Assembly Passes Bill to Protect Health Care Providers that Prescribe and Dispense Abortion Medication

Assembly Passes Bill to Protect Health Care Providers that Prescribe and Dispense Abortion Medication

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Amy Paulin announced today that the Assembly has passed legislation to protect health care professionals that legally prescribe and dispense abortion medication (A.09217, Paulin).

"New York will continue to take decisive and bold action as we protect New York's health care providers and safeguard access to reproductive care," said Speaker Heastie. "As we continue to witness the federal administration further undermine our health care professionals, the Assembly Majority will work to ensure they can continue providing safe and effective life-saving medication to women throughout the state."

"I am proud to sponsor this legislation so that health care providers can continue doing their jobs without fear of unjustified legal punishment," said Assemblymember Paulin. "Mifepristone has been proven safe and effective for decades. This bill would give doctors peace of mind and help protect access to this essential means of reproductive healthcare."

This bill builds on protections the Assembly has fought for in previous years to safeguard health care providers that provide reproductive health services to patients. It exempts brand name or generic mifepristone, or any drug used for medication abortion, from being deemed unlawful to prescribe or dispense, even if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rescinds its approval.