Alaska Law Regarding Medicaid Payment for Abortions (SB 49)

SB 49 further defines when an abortion is considered “medically necessary” in order to be covered by the Alaska Medicaid Program.  Under the new law, the Alaska Medicaid program may not pay for abortion services unless the abortion services are medically necessary or the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest.

“Medically necessary” is defined as a “physician’s objective and reasonable professional judgment after considering medically relevant factors, an abortion must be performed to avoid a threat of serious risk to the life or physical health of a woman from continuation of the woman’s pregnancy.”

The law provides a list of 23 physical conditions that would qualify a person for a medically necessary abortion.  SB 49 does not include any consideration of mental illness or psychiatric disorders.

STATUS

Signed into law by Gov. Parnell on April 17, 2014.

Companion bill to HB 173, which failed to pass.

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