California Governor Signs Bill to Allow APCs to Provide Abortion Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
CONTACT:
Melissa Fowler
202.667.5881; 202.595.4395 (after hours/cell)
mfowler@prochoice.org
Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF):
Today, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that will allow appropriately trained nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and nurse midwives (CNMs) to provide first trimester aspiration abortion care.
We commend Governor Brown for taking this very important step toward increasing women’s access to abortion care. We’ve known for years that appropriately trained NPs, CNMs, and PAs—collectively referred to as advanced practice clinicians (APCs)—have the skills and expertise to provide safe first trimester abortion care.
APCs play an increasingly important role in the delivery of a range of health care services in the United States, and are already providers of prenatal and postpartum care; family planning services; and gynecological care. Allowing APCs to include first trimester abortion care in the full spectrum of health care they provide will expand access to abortion care for women—especially those living in rural areas of the state.
As we continue to see more and more states passing medically unnecessary regulations that make it more difficult for women to obtain the abortion care they need, it’s encouraging to see a state pass an evidence-based law that expands women’s access to high-quality abortion care.
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in North America. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care, which promotes health and justice for women. Our members include private and non-profit clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, women’s health centers, physicians’ offices, and hospitals who together care for more than half the women who choose abortion in the U.S. and Canada each year. Our members also include public hospitals and both public and private clinics in Mexico City.