[link removed] [[link removed]]
We’re excited to bring you U.S. Repro Watch, your go-to source for the latest updates on reproductive health and rights in the U.S. This week we are reading about two hospitals that violated federal law by refusing to provide emergency abortion care, Utah where a federal judge blocked a new law that bans the operation of abortion clinics, and states that are passing proactive and restrictive abortion-related measures.
Repro News This Week: May 12
Two hospitals that refused to provide emergency abortion care violated federal law, an investigation found. [[link removed]]
*
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) investigated hospitals in Missouri and Kansas after a complaint was filed on behalf of Mylissa Farmer, who was denied abortion care despite facing dangerous pregnancy complications.
*
The federal agency found that the two hospitals violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law which requires hospitals to provide emergency medical care.
*
The enforcement action is the first of its kind since Roe v. Wade was overturned. CMS has not announced any fines or other penalties against the two hospitals in its investigation, but it sent them notices warning that they were in violation of the law and asking them to correct the problems that led to Farmer being turned away. 
A Utah judge blocked a new law that bans the operation of abortion clinics [[link removed]] in the state.
*
The law was blocked May 2, just a day before it was set to take effect. It would have restricted the provision of abortion care to hospitals starting May 3 and banned the operation of abortion clinics entirely starting January 2024.

*
In his order, state court judge Andrew Stone wrote that the Legislature’s objective in enacting the ban was “nebulous” and that the law “appears to single out abortion clinics without any justification.”

*
The court’s decision means that Utah’s abortion clinics can continue to provide abortions for now while the case proceeds.
*
In
Montana,
Gov.
Greg
Gianforte
signed
five
anti-abortion
bills
into
law
[[link removed]]
with one attempting to redefine the right to privacy in order to take away state constitutional protections for abortion.

*
North
Carolina
lawmakers
unveiled
and
passed
a
ban
on
abortion
[[link removed]]
after
12
weeks
of
pregnancy.
The
legislation
now
goes
to
the
Governor.
*
In
New
York,
Gov.
Kathy
Hochul
signed
two
bills
expanding
access
to
reproductive
healthcare.
[[link removed]]
One
of
the
new
laws
allows
pharmacists
to
dispense
birth
control
over
the
counter.
*
Maryland
Gov.
Wes
Moore
also
approved
several
bills
protecting
abortion,
[[link removed]]
including
an
interstate
shield
bill,
which
makes
Maryland
the
14th
state
to
enact
such
a
law.
Did You Know?
Medication abortion will become available for the first time in Japan [[link removed]] after the health ministry approved a two-step regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol on Friday. According to Gynuity Health Projects, at least 94 countries have approved mifepristone [[link removed]] over the last 35 years. Despite this global trend—and the drug’s proven safety and efficacy—access to mifepristone is now at risk in the U.S. [[link removed]]
“While many state laws have recently changed, it’s important to know that the federal EMTALA requirements have not changed, and continue to require that health care professionals offer treatment, including abortion care, that the provider reasonably determines is necessary to stabilize the patient’s emergency medical condition.”
- Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services Secretary
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
reproductiverights.org [[link removed]]
The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the power of law to advance
reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.
© Center for Reproductive Rights
Center for Reproductive Rights
199 Water St.
New York, NY 10038
United States
unsubscribe: [link removed]