Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Abortion Coverage Would Be Banned Under Bill Approved By Texas Senate
Health insurers would be prohibited from covering abortion in all cases save for medical emergencies under a bill the Texas Senate gave preliminary approval to on Tuesday. Senate Bill 575 by Republican state Sen. Larry Taylor of Friendswood passed on a 21-10 vote. One Democrat joined the chamber's Republicans to approve the measure. (Ura, 5/5)
The Senate voted Tuesday to eliminate insurance coverage for abortion through private insurance plans and policies purchased through the federal health care exchange. (Martin, 5/5)
Gov. Terry Branstad wants to halt a policy adopted two years ago that threatened to put him in the unusual position of having to sign off on payments for every Medicaid-funded abortion in the state. A spokesman for the Republican governor said Tuesday that Branstad's proposed Health and Human Services budget doesn't include that provision, which was developed in a compromise health care deal by the Democratic-led Senate and Republican-controlled House. At the time, conservatives hoped the requirement would limit the public dollars spent on abortion by putting more scrutiny on the conservative anti-abortion governor. (Lucey, 5/5)
