Missouri Abortion Risk Factor Evaluation Bill (HB 540)

HB 540 would require certain medical professionals to conduct an abortion risk factor evaluation prior to performing or referring for an abortion.

The bill would require the state Department of Health and Senior Services to disseminate a risk evaluation which includes:

• A checklist or rating form of the statistically significant risk factors of an abortion; and
• Any additional demographic information or questions deemed useful by the department.

The department would be required to publish an annual summary of the risk evaluation checklist and make it available to researchers.

Informed Consent

The bill would require a physician to use the abortion risk factor evaluation when meeting with a pregnant patient seeking an abortion. At a minimum, the risk evaluation must include the risk evaluation form disseminated by the state, a copy of which that would need to be retained as part of the patient’s medical file, and a copy of which that would need to be delivered to the department within 120 days.

In regard to referrals, the bill would prohibit a physician, qualified person, or licensed medical provider making more than five referrals per year for abortions outside the state of Missouri from making a referral for abortion prior to a qualified person’s evaluation, the disclosure of risks, and the provision of a copy of the risk evaluation form to the pregnant person.

---

Latest Action

1/10/19 – Introduced.

1/30/19 – Referred to Children and Families Committee.

---

People