Idaho Panel Approves Ban on Abortion Coverage Through State Exchanges; Mo. House Approves Ban on Abortion After 20 Weeks

March 16, 2011 — The Idaho House State Affairs Committee on Monday approved a bill (SB 1115) that would prohibit insurers from offering abortion coverage through state-based insurance exchanges established under the federal health reform law (PL 111-148), the AP/Idaho Press-Tribune reports. The proposed bill would not apply to abortion coverage for cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is in danger. Individuals still would be able to purchase abortion coverage from private insurers outside the exchange.

The state Senate already approved the measure and it now moves to the House floor (AP/Idaho Press-Tribune, 3/15).

Mo. House Approves Measure To Prohibit Abortion After 20 Weeks

The Missouri House on Monday voted 120-37 to grant preliminary approval to a bill (HB 213) that would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks gestation, Ozarks First reports. Under the measure, sponsored by state Rep. Tim Jones (R), abortion after 20 weeks would be permitted only if the procedure would save the life of a pregnant woman.

Under the exception, the abortion must be performed in a way that could preserve the life of the fetus, which would require a second physician to be present to take control of the fetus when it is delivered. The bill must pass another roll call vote before it can advance to the Senate for further consideration (Aldrich, Ozarks First, 3/14).