Senate health bill would mandate abortion coverage

By: Susan Ferrechio
Chief Congressional Correspondent
July 9, 2009

Abortion opponents pray during a memorial for abortion deaths at Operation Rescue's headquarters Saturday, June 20, 2009, (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Republicans say they are outraged by a provision added to a Senate health care reform bill that would require insurance companies to pay for abortion services.

The amendment was added during the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee meeting on Thursday as the panel drafts a bill authored by Sen. Edward Kennedy that would expand health insurance to millions and create a public health insurance option.

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., would require health insurance companies "to contract with organizations like Planned Parenthood," according to a spokesman for the top Republican on the panel.

According to the amendment language, insurers would have to cover "essential community providers...that serve predominantly low-income, medically under-served individuals" such as Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, attempted to add language that would have blocked abortions from coverage, but Mikulski objected.

The amendment passed 12-11, with every Republican and one Democrat, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., voting against it.

Mikulski insisted that the bill "doesn't expand nor mandate an abortion service."

Hatch responded, "No, but it would provide for it."

Mikulski answered, "It would provide for any service deemed medically necessary or medically appropriate."

Mikulski also suggested that the amendment could be "sharpened" in the future to address the concerns of Hatch and Casey.

"The way it is written is too broad," Casey said. "The way it is written could be interpreted down the road to include something like abortion."

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Reader Comments

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ho_hum_one

Jul 10, 2009

"Republicans say they are outraged by a provision added to a Senate health care reform bill that would require insurance companies to pay for abortion services.
" Didn't see that one coming. Sigh.

Edd Doerr

Jul 10, 2009

Physician approved pregnancy terminations are accepted practice in the medical profession. They should be available to all women under medical insurance policies. Senators Kennedy amd Mikulski, both Catholics incidentally, are to be commended for their concern for the needs of all women.

Nellie

Jul 10, 2009

How dare the thought of Mikulski and Kennedy to put such a notion in the health care bill! Why don't they follow their own relitious teachings? What would the Pope say to them? The Democrats are making their way for a loss in 2010! Why should my tax dollars be spent on an abortion amendment and its results when it is not only against my religion (and theirs), but also killing innocent fetus's (babies). I believe both of these senators should read up on what a fetus represents! Please spread the word and get everyone to call their senators and congressmen to vote against this bill for not only the abortion amendment, but the extremly expense it involves!

I will be praying for them both and also the health care bill itself that it not be passed! God Almighty is in control and certainly not Kennedy and Mikulski! Why Sen. Mikulski is the Senator from MY state! How could she do this to us?

Allyson

Jul 10, 2009

Thank you to Mikulski and Kennedy. I had a miscarriage and my insurance didn't want to pay for it. The D&C was coded the same way an abortion was be so they didn't want to pay. However most times this procedure is necessary to a womans health and because of that the provision is extremely important. Especially when you read what Mikulski said "It would provide for any service deemed medically necessary or medically appropriate." If a doctor recommends a procedure for your overall health, why would that be not covered by insurance?

spaz

Jul 13, 2009

Good point, Allyson. The problem here is that the wingnuts are lumping abortion-on-demand in with legitimate medical procedures that are needed when pregnancies fail and miscarriages happen that are not anyone's fault.

People like Orrin Hatch and the Cons on the HELP Committee know the difference between these two things and know what Mikulski's intent is, but they are grandstanding and ought to be ashamed of themselves.

While I do not support taxpayer-funded abortions, there does need to be language that exempts the kind of thing that you had to go through.

Anna

Jul 21, 2009

Does anyone know the exact section in the reform bill that this provision is found?