Women's Public Health and Safety Act

Bill: 114-s-2159
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-10-07
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion

Health facilities and institutions

Health personnel

Medicaid
Latest action: action_date: 2015-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-10-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Women's Public Health and Safety Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state to exclude from participation in the state's Medicaid program a provider that performs an abortion, unless: (1) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or (2) the woman suffers from a physical issue that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. (Under current law, a state plan for medical assistance must provide that any individual eligible for medical assistance may obtain required services from any provider qualified to perform them.)</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2159 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 7, 2015 Mr. Vitter (for himself and Mr. Tillis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow for greater State flexibility with respect to excluding providers who are involved in abortions.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Women’s Public Health and Safety Act . 2. Increasing State flexibility in determining participation of providers who perform, or participate in the performance of, abortions Section 1902 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(23), by striking subsection (g) and inserting subsection (g), subsection (ll), ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (ll) Rules with respect to determination of participation of providers who perform, or participate in the performance of, abortions (1) In general Beginning October 1, 2015, subject to paragraph (2), for purposes of this title, a State, at its option, may establish criteria with respect to the participation under the State plan (or under a waiver of the plan) of an institution, agency, entity, or person who performs, or participates in the performance of, abortions. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an abortion— (A) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (B) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself. (3) Definitions For purposes of this subsection, the terms institution , agency , or entity mean the entire legal institution, agency, or entity, or any part thereof, including any institution, agency, or entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such institution, agency, or entity. .