Governor Hochul signs legislation allowing health providers to prescribe medication, abortion and deliver reproductive healthcare through tele-health service
ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation into law recently that will strengthen access to reproductive health care and protect patients and doctors who require abortion care through telehealth services.
This legislation expands the current law to ensure doctors, medical providers, and facilitators in the state are able to provide tele-health services to patients outside of New York without fear of litigation in states where abortion services are outlawed or restricted.
"We are witnessing a shameful regression of women's rights in this country as abortion access is restricted in states across the nation,” Governor Hochul said.
“In New York, we remain committed to ensuring abortion remains safe, accessible, and legal. This legislation will help more women access medication abortion and reproductive care by ensuring our health care providers can deliver telehealth services to out-of-state patients without fear of legal or professional repercussions. With this bill, New York is continuing to fight back against restrictive abortion laws and help more people access the care they need."
Legislation (S.1066B/A.1709B) will help ensure more women can access reproductive health care and abortion services by prohibiting state law enforcement from cooperating with cases prosecuting doctors in New York who use tele-health services to prescribe medication abortion or deliver any reproductive health care to people in states with restrictive abortion laws.
It also ensures that providers who comply with their practice are not subject to professional discipline from medical malpractice insurance companies for delivering these reproductive tele-health services to out-of-state-patients.
This legislation expands the current law that Governor Hochul signed in June 2022 to protect New York health care providers of abortions when an out-of-state patient is physically present in New York.
As part of the FY 2024 Budget, Governor Hochul announced major actions to protect abortion access and solidify New York's status as a safe harbor for all who seek abortion care.
Image via the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
