Sen. Breen testifies in favor of bill to allow advance practice clinicians to perform abortions

AUGUSTA—Sen. Cathy Breen, D-Falmouth, testified before the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services on Wednesday in support of a bill to allow advance practice clinicians (APCs), such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to provide abortion care.

“APCs are assuming more and more responsibilities over a wide spectrum of medical care that used to be the sole purview of MDs, including family practice, psychiatry, and other areas of obstetrics. There is no reason for them not to be able to perform abortion services as well,” said Sen. Breen.  “Ultimately, this is about a woman’s choice to make a deeply personal decision without lawmakers intervening. Beyond a certain threshold, the state should not decide whom a woman may or may not choose to perform an abortion.”

The bill — LD1261, “An Act To Authorize Certain Health Care Professionals To Perform Abortions” — was introduced by House Speaker Sara Gideon and aims to allow women a broader range of choices when choosing a medical professional to perform an abortion. Similar bills have been passed in other states, including New Hampshire and Vermont. The bill will have its work session in the coming weeks.