May 8, 2009
Bill requiring abortion doctors to obtain admitting privileges fails
By BRIGID CURTIS AYER (Indiana Catholic Conference)
A proposal requiring abortion doctors to obtain hospital privileges for better follow up care for post abortive women failed in conference committee when lawmakers were unable to reconcile differences between the House and Senate version of the bill.
Sen. Patricia Miller (R-Indianapolis), author of the proposal, SB 89, was “very encouraged that the House passed the bill,” but knew there would be challenges if the bill went to conference committee. One of the challenges was an irreconcilable difference on a breast and cervical cancer screening amendment offered by Rep. Craig Fry (D-Elkhart) which passed overwhelmingly in the House. “The sticking point of the bill was the provision which provided breast and cervical cancer screening for uninsured women,” said Glenn Tebbe, ICC executive director. “Senate conferees would not agree to this provision because of the estimated $23 million price tag and the issue was ruled as not germane to the original bill. “
For more details on why the bill failed go to the I-CAN Update on the ICC Web page at http://www.indianacc.org.