House Bill 1210 could abolish Ind. women's abortion rights

Planned Parenthood of Indiana is still in danger of losing its state and federal aid.

Republican lawmakers in Indianapolis are once again pushing for the enactment of House Bill 1210, which would cut nearly $3 million in funding for PPIN and place additional restrictions on women seeking voluntary abortions.

PPIN provides preventative and reproductive health care. Since federal law already prohibits funding from being used for abortion, most of the tax dollars PPIN receives go to funding procedures such as pap tests, breast exams, birth control and STD testing
and treatment.

“The real losers if this measure becomes law are the patients,” PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum said.

It is estimated 22,000 Indiana residents benefit from the subsidized services PPIN offers at 28 health centers throughout Indiana.

The proposed legislation would also eliminate Medicaid reimbursements for patient services at health centers around the state.

Some legislators argue there are other organizations providing the same kind of preventative care as PPIN that do not require federal or state funding. They also hope the new restrictions will help inform women.

The restrictions outlined by the bill would prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks. The bill would also require a woman to be told an aborted fetus can feel pain and would compel a woman, unless she refused in writing, to view a fetal ultrasound before an abortion.

Bill author Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, said he believes this is a major win for pro-life Hoosiers and the Indiana Right to Life group.

“I hope with this legislation, women will be able to make a more informed decision about their pregnancy, and I hope ultimately we’ll have fewer abortions in this state,” Turner said.

Opponents of the bill and Planned Parenthood supporters have said they see this bill as an attack on women’s reproductive rights.

The Indiana Senate approved the bill April 18. If it passes in the House by this session’s April 29 deadline, it will become law.

“It makes absolutely no sense to reduce access to birth control when the objective is to reduce the incidence of abortion,” Cockrum said.