State Updates
State Representatives Ashley Bryant Bailey and Anita Somani introduced House Bill 767, the Ohio Menopause, Perimenopause, and Hormone Therapy Coverage Act. The bill, as introduced, would require health insurers and the Medicaid program to cover services, therapies, and treatments related to menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. Updated federal guidance cleared hormone replacement therapy as safe and effective for use, a signal that the benefits outweigh the risks. This is a significant step forward in ensuring equitable healthcare access for women across Ohio!
While there is some great stuff happening at the Statehouse (cheers to SB 396!), there is also a continued push to impose restrictions on rights:
- Legislation recently introduced by Representative Jean Schmidt, House Bill 754, is an example of a strategic attack on bodily autonomy and democracy. The bill would require a fetal death certificate to be filed after an abortion and would require the fetal death certificate to indicate if the cause of the death was an abortion. Requiring a fetal death certificate for abortion creates an identifiable registry of abortions in Ohio, which could be traced back to one person, especially in small communities. If the bill passed, as introduced, it would create a new, dangerous surveillance state for birthing individuals.
- House Bill 347, a targeted restriction of abortion providers (TRAP) law, a 24-hour waiting period, and an informed consent-biased counseling bill, passed through the House and has now been referred to the Senate Health Committee for consideration. This bill is in direct conflict with Ohio’s constitutional amendment, The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety, and should therefore be denounced as an attempt to overturn the people’s will.
- House Bill 249, a drag ban and freedom restriction bill, passed the House and has now been referred to the Senate Judicial Committee for consideration. This bill represents an attack on the LGBTQ+ community and lawmakers have deliberately used vague language. When laws are left intentionally ambiguous, individuals often self-censor or refrain from exercising their rights to avoid potential consequences and law enforcement, posing a threat to freedom of expression.
Federal Updates
Reproductive health and access to abortion are facing new challenges. Currently, telehealth access to abortion medication is being targeted and contested in the courts. A federal appeals court attempted to ban the remote prescription and mailing of the abortion pill Mifepristone across the country. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has blocked that ban, meaning the FDA’s rule permitting telehealth prescriptions remains in effect while the case is resolved in lower courts.
As we await updates on the availability of telehealth for medical abortions, let’s continue advocating for medical autonomy and access to care by sharing knowledge. Less than ten years ago, 2,529 Ohio women were asked to answer the question, “Based on what you know or have heard, is it legal to get an abortion in your state?” Twenty-six percent were unsure whether abortion was illegal in Ohio, and an additional ten percent believed it to be illegal. While perceptions may have changed over time, sharing knowledge about abortion safety, legality, and accessibility counters misinformation and reduces stigma.
Here are some facts you can share to empower your network:
- Women have the right to make the decision that is best for them.
- Abortion is safer than pregnancy due to the higher risk of death associated with childbirth.
- Mifepristone and Misoprostol are safe and effective.
- Abortion is legal in Ohio.