Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a telemedicine bill meant to help people use the internet for virtual doctor visits and receive medication because it did not include abortion pills.
The bill received a new amendment that bans “the use of telemedicine for procedures that are not approved under the Food and Drug Administration’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS),” which does not include the at-home abortion drug mifeprex.
REMS “requires patients to be informed about a drug’s side effects, along with the drug’s registration with an FDA safety program.”
This was too much for Wolf:
“Telemedicine is a valuable option in the delivery of health care services, especially during these trying times. However, it is crucially important to ensure this access is equitable and does not restrict medical treatment and services,” Wolf said in a veto message released Wednesday. He claimed the bill “interferes with women’s health care and the crucial decision-making between patients and their physicians.”
Republican Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman pointed out that the state does not allow at-home abortions so it’s impossible for the bill to restrict abortion:
He accused the governor of rewarding his political allies at the expense of public health.”In bending to his political interests, the Governor is denying access to medical care, increasing the cost of healthcare and decreasing the quality of life in our communities,” Corman said in a statement. “This bill embraced federal guidelines for prescribing medications. The bill changed nothing about how healthcare was being offered through an in-person visit. To use that as an excuse to veto the bill is just a partisan falsehood.”
Planned Parenthood Keystone already said it will keep clinics open “for abortion services only.” The company even begged for medical equipment even though hospitals have a shortage.
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