Ohio budget amendment now includes severe abortion restriction

Columbus, Ohio – The Republican leadership in the Ohio Senate has added an amendment (134HB110-SC4502X2/JF) that would restrict the distance for physicians to be able to work with an abortion clinic and restricts physicians’ ability to work with state-funded medical facilities, medical schools, and teaching hospitals if they also sign onto a variance application with an Ambulatory Surgical Facility.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said: “Republicans in the Ohio Senate have yet again hijacked the budget process to further their anti-abortion agenda by adding an amendment that would add even more medically-unnecessary licensing restrictions on abortion providers. Abortion providers are a critical part of Ohio’s medical community. Across the state trusted medical providers work hand in hand with abortion clinics, medical schools, and hospitals to ensure patients get access to comprehensive reproductive health care they deserve. This amendment is about stigmatizing and isolating abortion providers. Let’s be clear about what this amendment does: closes the doors to doctors in an effort to close the door to patients. No patient has ever been helped by a closed door. A clear majority of Ohioans support access to safe and legal abortion care, and do not support this restriction.”