Latest news with #Chelsea'sFund
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wyoming lawmakers override veto on law requiring ultrasound for pill abortions
Women trying to get the abortion pill in Wyoming now need to undergo an ultrasound after state lawmakers overrode the governor's earlier veto of a bill requiring the procedure. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) vetoed the 'Chemical abortions-ultrasound requirement' bill earlier this week citing concerns over its invasive nature and the bill's lack of exceptions for victims of rape or incest. 'It creates the prospect of an unnecessary, intimate, and invasive procedure (transvaginal ultrasound) which subjects women to an uncomfortable and potentially traumatic experience in what may already be a very overwhelming situation,' Gordon wrote in a letter to Wyoming House Speaker Chip Neiman (R), the bill's main sponsor. Under the bill, women seeking to end a pregnancy using abortion medication need to receive a transvaginal ultrasound at least 48 hours before receiving the necessary pills. During the procedure, a health care provider inserts a device called a transducer into the vagina to record images of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. State senators voted to override Gordon's veto of the bill in a 22-9 vote on Wednesday following a House vote in which members voted 45-16 to do the same. Wyoming became the first state to try to outlaw abortion medication in 2023, but both surgical and chemical abortions remain legal as multiple bans on the procedure remain tangled in court. There are 10 other states that require an abortion provider to perform an ultrasound on a person seeking an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Among those states, eight require the provider to offer patients the chance to look at the image of their ultrasound. Reproductive rights advocates in the state called the move by the Legislature 'cruel.' 'We are saddened so many legislators lack empathy for women seeking abortion care and fundamental respect for women's decision-making ability,' Christine Lichtenfels, executive director of the reproductive access nonprofit Chelsea's Fund, said in a statement. 'Chelsea's Fund is already challenging this unconstitutional, unnecessary and demeaning bill in court, and stands ready to help every Wyomingite who needs assistance accessing abortion care,' she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Wyoming lawmakers override veto on law requiring ultrasound for pill abortions
Women trying to get the abortion pill in Wyoming now need to undergo an ultrasound after state lawmakers overrode the governor's earlier veto of a bill requiring the procedure. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) vetoed the 'Chemical abortions-ultrasound requirement' bill earlier this week citing concerns over its invasive nature and the bill's lack of exceptions for victims of rape or incest. 'It creates the prospect of an unnecessary, intimate, and invasive procedure (transvaginal ultrasound) which subjects women to an uncomfortable and potentially traumatic experience in what may already be a very overwhelming situation,' Gordon wrote in a letter to Wyoming House Speaker Chip Neiman (R), the bill's main sponsor. Under the bill, women seeking to end a pregnancy using abortion medication need to receive a transvaginal ultrasound at least 48 hours before receiving the necessary pills. During the procedure, a health care provider inserts a device called a transducer into the vagina to record images of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. State senators voted to override Gordon's veto of the bill in a 22-9 vote on Wednesday following a House vote in which members voted 45-16 to do the same. Wyoming became the first state to try to outlaw abortion medication in 2023, but both surgical and chemical abortions remain legal as multiple bans on the procedure remain tangled in court. There are 10 other states that require an abortion provider to perform an ultrasound on a person seeking an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Among those states, eight require the provider to offer patients the chance to look at the image of their ultrasound. Reproductive rights advocates in the state called the move by the Legislature 'cruel.' 'We are saddened so many legislators lack empathy for women seeking abortion care and fundamental respect for women's decision-making ability,' Christine Lichtenfels, executive director of the reproductive access nonprofit Chelsea's Fund, said in a statement. 'Chelsea's Fund is already challenging this unconstitutional, unnecessary and demeaning bill in court, and stands ready to help every Wyomingite who needs assistance accessing abortion care,' she added.
CNN
06-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
Ultrasound now needed for pill abortions in Wyoming after lawmakers override veto
Women planning pill abortions in Wyoming will need to get an ultrasound after lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of the law. Wednesday's 22-9 vote by the state Senate followed a 45-16 vote by the House on Tuesday to override. In vetoing the bill Monday, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon questioned whether it was reasonable and necessary, especially for victims of rape and incest. Lawmakers cited concerns about women's well-being Wednesday in voting to override, and they cleared the two-thirds majority requirement. 'He's very concerned about the psychological effects of this procedure,' Republican Sen. Darin Smith of Cheyenne said of the governor, 'but what about the psychological effects of having an abortion, for the rest of your life?' The new requirement, which takes effect right away, was criticized by abortion rights advocates. 'We are saddened so many legislators lack empathy and respect for women's decision-making authority, but we stand ready to fight this unconstitutional, unnecessary and unreasonable bill in court,' Christine Lichtenfels, executive director of the Wyoming abortion access advocacy group Chelsea's Fund, said in a statement. Wyoming is the first state to explicitly outlaw pill abortions, though that and other abortion bans over the past three years are on hold pending a case before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Ten other states require abortion providers to perform ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Under Wyoming's new law, pregnant women planning pill abortions will have to drive potentially long distances to get an ultrasound and have it documented. They would have the opportunity but not be required to view the image of the fetus at least 48 hours before a pill abortion. Existing state law already requires abortion providers to offer an ultrasound to women getting abortions. Pregnant woman who do not get an ultrasound will not be penalized under the new law, however. Instead it is medical providers who face up to $9,000 in fines and six months in jail for not arranging it. But there are few if any active abortion providers left. Last week the state's only full-service abortion clinic stopped providing any abortion care, surgical or medicinal, after Gordon signed a bill requiring such facilities to be licensed as surgical centers. Wellspring Health Access in Casper is wary of running afoul of the law while it challenges it and others in court, President Julie Burkhart said. It was not clear whether Wyoming's only other clinic providing medication abortions, a family medicine practice in Jackson, continues to do so. There was no response to phone messages left with the clinic seeking comment Tuesday and Wednesday. Pill abortions remain possible in the state through remote services: Women have access through the Just the Pill telehealth service and online providers such as Abuzz, The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, and Aid Access, according to Chelsea's Fund. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than 3 in 5 abortions carried out in the U.S. through the formal health care system in 2023 were medicinal. Wyoming had the biggest portion of abortions via pill that year: 19 in 20.
CNN
06-03-2025
- Health
- CNN
Ultrasound now needed for pill abortions in Wyoming after lawmakers override veto
Women planning pill abortions in Wyoming will need to get an ultrasound after lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of the law. Wednesday's 22-9 vote by the state Senate followed a 45-16 vote by the House on Tuesday to override. In vetoing the bill Monday, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon questioned whether it was reasonable and necessary, especially for victims of rape and incest. Lawmakers cited concerns about women's well-being Wednesday in voting to override, and they cleared the two-thirds majority requirement. 'He's very concerned about the psychological effects of this procedure,' Republican Sen. Darin Smith of Cheyenne said of the governor, 'but what about the psychological effects of having an abortion, for the rest of your life?' The new requirement, which takes effect right away, was criticized by abortion rights advocates. 'We are saddened so many legislators lack empathy and respect for women's decision-making authority, but we stand ready to fight this unconstitutional, unnecessary and unreasonable bill in court,' Christine Lichtenfels, executive director of the Wyoming abortion access advocacy group Chelsea's Fund, said in a statement. Wyoming is the first state to explicitly outlaw pill abortions, though that and other abortion bans over the past three years are on hold pending a case before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Ten other states require abortion providers to perform ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Under Wyoming's new law, pregnant women planning pill abortions will have to drive potentially long distances to get an ultrasound and have it documented. They would have the opportunity but not be required to view the image of the fetus at least 48 hours before a pill abortion. Existing state law already requires abortion providers to offer an ultrasound to women getting abortions. Pregnant woman who do not get an ultrasound will not be penalized under the new law, however. Instead it is medical providers who face up to $9,000 in fines and six months in jail for not arranging it. But there are few if any active abortion providers left. Last week the state's only full-service abortion clinic stopped providing any abortion care, surgical or medicinal, after Gordon signed a bill requiring such facilities to be licensed as surgical centers. Wellspring Health Access in Casper is wary of running afoul of the law while it challenges it and others in court, President Julie Burkhart said. It was not clear whether Wyoming's only other clinic providing medication abortions, a family medicine practice in Jackson, continues to do so. There was no response to phone messages left with the clinic seeking comment Tuesday and Wednesday. Pill abortions remain possible in the state through remote services: Women have access through the Just the Pill telehealth service and online providers such as Abuzz, The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, and Aid Access, according to Chelsea's Fund. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than 3 in 5 abortions carried out in the U.S. through the formal health care system in 2023 were medicinal. Wyoming had the biggest portion of abortions via pill that year: 19 in 20.
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Ultrasound now needed for pill abortions in Wyoming after lawmakers override veto
Women planning pill abortions in Wyoming will need to get an ultrasound after lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of the law. Wednesday's 22-9 vote by the state Senate followed a 45-16 vote by the House on Tuesday to override. In vetoing the bill Monday, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon questioned whether it was reasonable and necessary, especially for victims of rape and incest. Lawmakers cited concerns about women's well-being Wednesday in voting to override, and they cleared the two-thirds majority requirement. 'He's very concerned about the psychological effects of this procedure,' Republican Sen. Darin Smith of Cheyenne said of the governor, 'but what about the psychological effects of having an abortion, for the rest of your life?' The new requirement, which takes effect right away, was criticized by abortion rights advocates. 'We are saddened so many legislators lack empathy and respect for women's decision-making authority, but we stand ready to fight this unconstitutional, unnecessary and unreasonable bill in court,' Christine Lichtenfels, executive director of the Wyoming abortion access advocacy group Chelsea's Fund, said in a statement. Wyoming is the first state to explicitly outlaw pill abortions, though that and other abortion bans over the past three years are on hold pending a case before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Ten other states require abortion providers to perform ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Under Wyoming's new law, pregnant women planning pill abortions will have to drive potentially long distances to get an ultrasound and have it documented. They would have the opportunity but not be required to view the image of the fetus at least 48 hours before a pill abortion. Existing state law already requires abortion providers to offer an ultrasound to women getting abortions. Pregnant woman who do not get an ultrasound will not be penalized under the new law, however. Instead it is medical providers who face up to $9,000 in fines and six months in jail for not arranging it. But there are few if any active abortion providers left. Last week the state's only full-service abortion clinic stopped providing any abortion care, surgical or medicinal, after Gordon signed a bill requiring such facilities to be licensed as surgical centers. Wellspring Health Access in Casper is wary of running afoul of the law while it challenges it and others in court, President Julie Burkhart said. It was not clear whether Wyoming's only other clinic providing medication abortions, a family medicine practice in Jackson, continues to do so. There was no response to phone messages left with the clinic seeking comment Tuesday and Wednesday. Pill abortions remain possible in the state through remote services: Women have access through the Just the Pill telehealth service and online providers such as Abuzz, The Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, and Aid Access, according to Chelsea's Fund. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than 3 in 5 abortions carried out in the U.S. through the formal health care system in 2023 were medicinal. Wyoming had the biggest portion of abortions via pill that year: 19 in 20.
