West Florida News

U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has reintroduced legislation aimed at prohibiting Medicare from funding abortion services via telehealth. The proposed bill, known as the Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act, seeks to ban payments from Medicare to healthcare providers who conduct chemical abortions without a physical examination by a physician, without the presence of a physician during the procedure, and without scheduling a follow-up appointment for the patient.

Rep. Steube emphasized the significance of this bill by stating, “The right to life is fundamental to both human dignity and freedom. Taxpayer-funded abortions with zero oversight are not only an affront to the millions of pro-life Americans but a blatant assault on our nation’s values.”

The legislation has gained support from several co-sponsors including Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-NY), John McGuire (R-Va.), Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). It is also backed by various organizations such as March for Life Action, Students for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and Americans United for Life.

Jeanne F. Mancini, President of March for Life Action, expressed gratitude towards Congressman Steube’s efforts: “We are grateful for Congressman Steube’s dedication to protecting women from harmful chemical abortion drugs.”

Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life Action & Students for Life of America stated that telemedicine should not be used recklessly: “Abusing the tool of telemedicine to fast-track the sale of Chemical Abortion Pills in ways known to expose women and girls to injury, infertility, death is a loophole Congress can close.”

Hon. Marilyn Musgrave from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America criticized recent policy changes: “The Biden-Harris administration jeopardized the health and safety of women and girls by removing safety standards for dangerous abortion drugs.”

AAPLOG Action highlighted concerns over care standards: “For the past several years, the abortion industry has subjected women taking abortion drugs to a much lower standard of care than would be acceptable for any other pregnant women."

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