Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act

Bill: 119-hr-1349
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Introduced: 2025-02-13
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion

Computers and information technology

Drug therapy

Health care coverage and access

Health technology, devices, supplies

Medicare

Prescription drugs

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act</strong></p><p>This bill excludes providers of abortion-inducing drugs from participating in Medicare unless the provider is a physician who physically examines the patient, is physically present when the drug is administered, and schedules an in-person follow-up visit with the patient within 14 days of administering the drug.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1349 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2025 Mr. Steube (for himself, Ms. Tenney , Mr. Haridopolos , Mr. McGuire , and Mr. Biggs of Arizona ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to exclude providers of certain abortion services from participation in the Medicare program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act . 2. Excluding providers of certain abortion services from participation in the Medicare program Section 1128 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (or, in the case of individuals and entities described in paragraph (5), from participation in the Medicare program under title XVIII) after (as defined in section 1128B(f)) ; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph: (5) Provision of abortion-inducing drugs Any individual or entity that, on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, prescribes, administers, dispenses, or furnishes an abortion-inducing drug to a patient, unless such individual or entity— (A) is a physician; (B) physically examines the patient; (C) is physically present in the same room with the patient at the time the patient is administered, takes, or uses (as applicable) such drug; and (D) schedules an in-person follow-up visit for the patient to occur not more than 14 days after the patient is administered, takes, or uses (as applicable) such drug. ; and (2) in subsection (c)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking subsection (b)(12) and inserting subsection (a)(5) or (b)(12) ; (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking subparagraph (G) and inserting subparagraphs (G) and (H) ; (C) in subparagraph (G), by inserting (other than under paragraph (5) of such subsection) after subsection (a) ; and (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (H) In the case of an exclusion under subsection (a)(5), the exclusion shall be permanent. ; (3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply in the case of an exclusion under subsection (a)(5). ; (4) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply in the case of an exclusion under subsection (a)(5). ; and (5) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (k) Abortion-Inducing drug defined (1) In general For purposes of subsection (a), the term abortion-inducing drug means any medicine, drug, or any other substance that is prescribed, administered, dispensed, or furnished with the intent of terminating the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman and with knowledge that the termination will with reasonable likelihood cause the death of the unborn child (including the off-label use of any such drug). (2) Unborn child The term unborn child has the meaning given such term in section 1841 of title 18, United States Code. .