N.C. House Panel Approves Abortion Restrictions That Could Cost State Nearly $7 Million to Implement

May 20, 2011 — The North Carolina House Appropriations Committee on Thursday voted 6-4 to pass a bill (HB 854) that would require a woman to receive an ultrasound, seek state mandated counseling and wait 24 hours before receiving abortion care, the Charlotte Observer reports. The state House could vote on the measure as early as next week (Morrill, Charlotte Observer, 5/20).

The bill would require an abortion provider to describe the ultrasound image. Although the woman would not have to watch the ultrasound screen or listen to the description, she would have to sign a document acknowledging that the description was provided, and the document would have to be kept on file for at least seven years. Legislative budget analysts estimate that the new requirements would lead to about 2,900 additional births annually, half of which would be paid for by Medicaid or other public health insurance programs. The measure would cost taxpayers $6.7 million in the first year and $35 million over five years, the analysts said (Women's Health Policy Report, 5/13).

In addition to costs related to an increased birth rate, the bill would require the state to spend up to $134,000 to develop a website and print materials (Charlotte Observer, 5/20). The website would provide the locations of state-approved counseling centers, and literature about pregnancy and abortion would be printed in both Spanish and English (AP/WWAY, 5/19).

Many Democrats and women lawmakers have criticized the measure, including state Rep. Beverly Earle (D), who said the bill is likely to pass. "It's an insult to women to pass legislation implying that they haven't thought about what they're doing," Earle said (Charlotte Observer, 5/20).

N.C. Bill Based on Misguided Assumptions, Planned Parenthood Medical Director Writes

The bill is "a misguided attempt to replace the professional judgment of physicians with the subjective opinions of politicians," Donna Burkett, affiliate medical director for Planned Parenthood Health Systems, writes in an Asheville Citizen-Times opinion piece. "The bill requires physicians to recite a script written by legislators, provide biased written materials, and perform an ultrasound and describe the image regardless of the patient's wishes," Burkett explains. In addition, "[w]omen must wait 24 hours after receiving the materials and four hours after having an ultrasound to obtain an abortion," she writes.

The bill "rests on two inaccurate assumptions; one, that physicians intentionally withhold information from women, and two, that women who choose to have abortions do so without careful consideration or concern," Burkett continues. In reality, "medical professionals are already bound by law to present the benefits, risks and alternatives of medical procedures," she writes, adding that Planned Parenthood staff "take special care to ensure that our patients make informed, autonomous decisions." She notes, "Unlike the scripted information required by this bill, our counseling is medically accurate and tailored to the needs of individual patients."

Burkett continues, "One thing is clear: most women think seriously about their options when faced with an unintended pregnancy." According to Burkett, "On average, a woman waits 10 days between finding out she is pregnant and making an abortion appointment. Most women consult trusted loved ones and make a decision based on their own personal circumstances and beliefs."

"Forcing women to listen to one-size fits-all information overlooks the variety of women's experiences," Burkett writes. "Government intrusion in such private, personal decision-making should never be tolerated," she concludes (Burkett, Asheville Citizen-Times, 5/18).