Christine Jordan Sexton
State health regulators are pushing ahead with emergency rules they contend are needed to respond to “disinformation” that has come in the wake of Florida’s new ban on abortions after six weeks.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) released a pair of emergency rules making it clear that certain medical procedures — including the treatment of an ectopic pregnancy — are not considered abortions and do not need to be recorded as such. The rules apply to hospitals as well as abortion clinics and medical facilities.
The rules include an unusual justification for the need to enact the rules immediately, stating that “the agency finds there is an immediate danger to the health, safety, and welfare of pregnant women and babies due to a deeply dishonest scare campaign and disinformation being perpetuated by the media, the Biden Administration, and advocacy groups to misrepresent the Heartbeat Protection Act and the State’s efforts to protect life, moms, and families.”
Florida’s strict new ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy took effect on Wednesday — one month after the Florida Supreme Court upheld the legality of a 15-week abortion ban and overturned a 35-year-old court ruling that had been used to challenge abortion restrictions in the past.
The six-week ban has attracted tremendous attention nationally and drawn sharp criticism from Democrats. Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have come to Florida in the past week to denounce the new ban.
AHCA on Wednesday put out a social media post defending the new law and pushing back against “fearmongers.” The “Myth vs Fact” post stated that women could receive care if they had a premature rupture of membranes and that Florida law allows an exception for the health of the mother.
The new rules state that “when a physician attempts to induce the live birth of an unborn baby, regardless of gestational age, to treat the premature rupture of membranes, and the unborn baby does not survive, the incident does not constitute an abortion.”
The rule also spells out that treatment for ectopic pregnancies, ruptured membranes and trophoblastic tumors — all life-threatening conditions — don’t need to be included in the mandated monthly abortion reports.
Under Florida law, emergency rules take effect immediately and can remain in place for up to 90 days. Emergency rules can be replaced by permanent ones, but that can involve a lengthy process.
9 comments
Dont Say FLA
May 2, 2024 at 10:42 am
The only disinformation is that the G0P is “pro-life.”
The G0P claims they are “pro-life” exclusively where that can be said without requiring them to take any action whatsoever that benefits any human.
They will argue they are “pro-life” right up till the very instant they might have to lift one finger and/or shell out one dollar to help someone.
The G0P’s claimed “pro-life” stance ends exactly where pro-life action begins. Because it’s just a stance. A claim. A lie.
Pro-life claims used to be a blank check for the G0P, but Trump went and bankrupted that like it was his casino.
rick whitaker
May 2, 2024 at 2:30 pm
DSF, a good tip would be to discount EVERYTHING the gop says. if they say one truth out of dozens’ of lies, well to miss that one truth, would be the best thing to do.
Ron Forrest Ron
May 2, 2024 at 10:51 am
DeSantis appointed judge to ectopic care medical doctor: “Prove the pregnancy was ectopic.”
Doctor: “I observed it directly”
Judge: “Off with your head, you abortionist!”
…because, predictably, claims will be made, doubt will be cast, doctors will go to
prisonanother state or another country to work. Like Florida’s teachers already are, and like Florida’s construction workers already all did.Pathetic women haters
May 2, 2024 at 11:08 am
Cover up by DeathSantis and his anti science lapdog surgeon general. Must have gotten his hands slapped when he went to kiss acx with the criminal.
PeterH
May 2, 2024 at 11:13 am
For the past fifty years Republicans have been advocating for a nationwide abortion ban!
Yeah sure! It’s Biden’s fault Florida has imposed one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation. Ridiculous spin at best!
Michael K
May 2, 2024 at 11:23 am
The governor could have vetoed this, but he was banking on culture wars to fuel what turned out to be a spectacularly expensive and absolute failure of a campaign. Remember, in the Florida primary, Nikki Haley got twice as many primary votes as Rhonda. Ouch! And now, Never Back Down (and Never Take Responsibility) Rhonda wonders why the backlash and again makes more stuff up.
MarvinM
May 3, 2024 at 1:05 pm
“The rules include an unusual justification for the need to enact the rules immediately, stating that “the agency finds there is an immediate danger to the health, safety, and welfare of pregnant women and babies due to a deeply dishonest scare campaign and disinformation being perpetuated by the media, the Biden Administration, and advocacy groups to misrepresent the Heartbeat Protection Act and the State’s efforts to protect life, moms, and families.””
Oh that’s rich. It’s not “deeply dishonest”, “disinformation”, or “misrepresentation of the bill. We’ve seen what happens to doctors and providers in other states with similar laws.
If women in Florida ARE able to get an abortion in the case of an ectopic pregnancy or a premature rupture of membranes, then why the F didn’t they WRITE THAT INTO THE BILL IN THE FIRST PLACE?
It’s despicable that they are are trying to blame others for them writing and them Ron signing this supremely crappy and vague bill.
Citizen
May 3, 2024 at 4:49 pm
Everything that comes out of the mouths of senior AHCA officials is garbage. Secretary Jason Weida is a proven liar with zero integrity and the perfect example to demonstrate that sh*t flows from the top down.
Liz
May 14, 2024 at 10:40 am
Vote in November and get this ridiculous law off the books floridians
Comments are closed.